Yunus Asks Modi to Restrict Hasina’s Communications, Modi Refuses

LONDON: Mohammad Yunus, chief adviser to Bangladesh‘s interim government, spoke at Chatham House on Wednesday and revealed that he asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restrict former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s communications after she fled to India. Yunus expressed worries that Hasina’s statements were inflaming tensions in Bangladesh.

During his address, Yunus said, “I told PM Modi: ‘You want to host her? I can’t force you to abandon that policy, but please help us in making sure she doesn’t speak to Bangladeshi people,’” recounting his conversation with Modi during the Bimstec Summit in April.

Yunus noted that Modi responded by saying, “It’s social media, we can’t control it,” dismissing the request. The chief adviser described the situation as “explosive,” emphasizing that the anger sparked by Hasina’s communications was palpable among the Bangladeshi populace.

Yunus hopes to foster a positive relationship with India but blamed the Indian media for spreading fake news, saying, “Things go wrong all the time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press.”

He also stated that the Awami League should not participate in the upcoming elections in 2026, insisting that it is not a legitimate political party due to its actions under Hasina’s administration. “We have not banned the Awami League,” Yunus clarified.

Protests erupted outside the event, with members of the Bangladeshi diaspora shouting accusations against Yunus. One protester held a placard demanding the release of Chinmoy Prabhu, a former monk. The unrest outside the venue mirrored the heightened tensions surrounding the discussions on Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Yunus emphasized the need for Hasina to answer the charges from the International Crimes Tribunal back in Bangladesh, stating, “This is a legal notice, we want it to be very legal, very proper.”