New Delhi: Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in a call with US’ Ambassador designate to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia blamed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the fresh cycle of violence in Bangladesh.
In the call Monday, Yunus also reiterated plans to hold the next general election in the country on 12 February 2026.
“The nation is eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights which were stolen by the autocratic regime,” Yunus told Gor, according to the readout published by the chief adviser’s office. Yunus further informed Gor that supporters of the ousted Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are spending “millions of dollars” to disrupt the elections and “inciting violence”.
“We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable,” the interim leader of Bangladesh added.
The call lasted for about half hour late Monday evening and comes after Bangladesh witnessed a few days of violence following the death of political aspirant Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi was shot by unknown assailants earlier this month and later passed away in Singapore on 18 December.
Hadi’s death triggered nationwide protests and a spurt of violence targeting Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, two of Bangladesh’s largest news organisations, as well as leading to the lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh. Hadi, the spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancho, a radical platform, was noted for his strong anti-India views.
Protesters also targeted Indian missions in the country, as well as the remnants of Dhanmondi 32, the house of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the protests, visa services at Indian missions in Khulna and Rajshahi were suspended.
Yunus and Gor also discussed reciprocal tariffs and the funeral of Hadi. The US Ambassador is set to arrive in India in the middle of January to assume leadership of the Embassy in New Delhi along with his other role as Special Envoy to South and Central Asia.
“Today, Special Envoy for SCA Ambassador Sergio Gor held a productive call with Chief Adviser Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB to discuss recent events in Bangladesh and shared US interests to advance prosperity through trade,” the US Bureau of South and Central Asian affairs said in a statement on the social media platform X.
Today, Special Envoy for SCA Ambassador Sergio Gor held a productive call with Chief Advisor Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB to discuss recent events in Bangladesh and shared US interests to advance prosperity through trade.
— Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) (@State_SCA) December 22, 2025
A number of Western embassies including the US’ in Dhaka issued statements in the aftermath of Hadi’s death. Unverified reports in the days after Hadi’s shooting indicated that the assailants allegedly fled to India, a statement that the Bangladeshi authorities later indicated may not be necessarily factual.
Another political leader in Bangladesh Mohammad, Motleb Sikder, the central organiser in Khulna for the National Citizen Party (NCP) was shot in the head Monday, but is currently reported to be out of danger.
A house belonging to Belal Hossain, a leader from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was set on fire early Saturday morning, leading to the death of his seven-year old daughter, according to reports.
The violence comes around two months ahead of the scheduled polls. BNP leader Tarique Rahman is set to return to the country on 25 December, ending his 18-year political exile as the party looks to win the upcoming elections.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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