On Tuesday, Bangladesh's interim government Information Advisor, Mahfuj Alam, claimed that over one lakh members of the exiled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League have escaped to India, as per the media reports. Alam made this statement at an Eid gathering in Dhaka, attended by families of individuals who allegedly disappeared or killed during Hasina’s rule, as reported by Bangladeshi news portal bdnews24.com.

The event was organised by the human rights group "Mayer Dak" in the Tejgaon area, according to a press release. Criticising Hasina, Alam accused her of using enforced disappearances and killings as a way to take revenge for her parents' assassination, as reported by the state-run news agency BSS.

“The highest number of enforced disappearances occurred in 2013 and 2014 when people were fighting for their voting rights. The main objective behind these actions was to destroy the electoral system,” Mahfuj Alam stated.

According to the adviser, the government has addressed enforced disappearances by establishing a commission to probe into these cases.

“Based on the commission’s recommendations, arrest warrants have been issued against several individuals involved in enforced disappearances. Additionally, investigations against many others are still ongoing,” conveyed Alam.

Strongly criticising the previous government, he alleged that political opponents of the Awami League were branded as terrorists and militants before being forcibly disappeared. He further claimed that their families were subjected to fear and intimidation, with state institutions being misused to carry out such actions.

The adviser also accused Hasina of orchestrating conspiracies against the country while staying in India, calling it deeply unfortunate. Additionally, he described the Awami League as operating like a "mafia group" and vowed that it would never be allowed to regain political influence in Bangladesh.

“It is unfortunate that India has chosen to shelter her and her terrorist forces. We have learnt that nearly 100,000 Awami League members have taken refuge there,” he was quoted.

Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule under the Awami League came to an end on August 5 last year following a violent, student-led mass uprising. Since then, the 77-year-old leader has been residing in India after secretly leaving Bangladesh.

Following her removal from power, Hasina has faced over 100 legal cases, including charges of mass murder and corruption. Many of her party’s leaders and ministers were either captured or fled abroad to escape prosecution for crimes such as mass killings and crimes against humanity. After her banishment, Muhammad Yunus assumed the role of Chief Adviser in the interim government. Meanwhile, Hasina’s Awami League has been missing from Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Alam, a prominent leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, played a crucial role in the July protests that ultimately led to Hasina’s downfall. Hasina, along with several senior ministers and political associates, has been charged by Bangladesh’s domestic International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity linked to the Students Against Discrimination-led protests.

This tribunal was established initially under the previous government to prosecute those who collaborated with the Pakistani military in carrying out genocide during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.