On Tuesday, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that she plans to return to the country soon. She accused the interim government’s head, Muhammad Yunus, of turning Bangladesh into a “terrorist country.” “Allah kept me alive for a reason, and the day will come when justice will be brought," she conveyed to her supporters, referring to members of her Awami League party who have suffered since her removal from power.

Hasina criticised Yunus, saying he was “someone who never loved the people” of Bangladesh. She added, “He loaned out small amounts at high interest rates and used the money to live lavishly abroad. We could not understand his duplicity then, so we helped him a lot. But people did not benefit. He did well for himself. Then developed a lust for power that is burning Bangladesh now.”

Hasina left for India last year after a massive student-led uprising brought down her government. Her removal from office came after an interim government was formed under Yunus. Yunus has been in charge for almost eight months, and national elections in Bangladesh are expected to occur by the end of this year.

The dismissed prime minister claimed that the Southeast Asian nation had become a “terrorist country”, further stating, “Our leaders and workers are being killed in a way that cannot be described. Awami League, cops, lawyers, journalists, artists, everyone is being targeted.” She continued, “I lost my father, mother, brother, everyone in one day. And then they did not let us return to the country. I know the pain of losing your own. Allah keeps protecting me; maybe he wants to get some good done through me. Those who have committed these crimes must be punished. This is my pledge".

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first meeting with Yunus since Sheikh Hasina left the country. The 40-minute discussion took place on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit, where Modi reaffirmed India’s backing for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh. During the meeting, Yunus also raised concerns about the extradition of the ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the issue of border-related killings.