Agencies DHAKA

Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a scathing attack on interim government head Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of "selling the nation to the United States" and condemning the recent ban on her Awami League party as unconstitutional.

In an audio message posted on her party's Facebook account, Hasina reiterated her claim that Nobel laureate Yunus seized control of the Bangladesh government with the assistance of extremist groups. This latest broadside comes amidst reports that Yunus has threatened to resign following the military's call for general elections in December.

Yunus was appointed as the transitional leader of the interim government on August 7, 2024, days after widespread student-led protests forced Hasina to resign and flee Bangladesh.

Parties mount pressure 

Bangladesh's political landscape witnessed a dramatic shift as the nation's top three political parties demanded a definitive election roadmap from the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. However, sources indicated that Yunus offered "no specific response" to the party's demands during the discussion.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday reiterated their call for elections to be held between December and June during a crucial meeting with Yunus at his official residence.

As part of an attempt to ease the escalating political tensions, the BNP restated its demand for the removal of three advisory council members -- student representatives Asif Mahmud and Mahfuj Alam, along with National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, according to the sources. "We are in favour of justice. We want an independent judiciary. The remaining trials will continue even if BNP comes to power," he added.