Controversies related to Sheikh Hasina

This article is part of a series about Sheikh Hasina
Early life and education Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman First Premiership (1996–2001) Sharing the water of the Ganges Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 1996 Repeal of the Indemnity Act Ashrayan-1 D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes Opposition Leader (2001–2009) 2004 Dhaka grenade attack 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis Logi Boitha Movement Second Premiership (2009–2024) Vision 2021 Enforced disappearances in Bangladesh (Aynaghar) Bangladesh Rifles revolt Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 2012 Rakhine State riots International Crimes Tribunal 2013 Shahbag protests 2013 Bangladesh violence Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013 Padma Bridge graft scandal Young Bangla Attacks by Islamic extremists in Bangladesh July 2016 Dhaka attack Bangladesh Bank robbery 2015 Bangladeshi political crisis Indo-Bangla land boundary agreement, 2015 COVID-19 pandemic Ashrayan-2 State visit to China Student–People's uprising Resignation Controversies Parties and Alliances Awami League Grand Alliance Elections 1986 1988 1991 February 1996 June 1996 2001 2008 2014 2018 2024 Ministries First ministry Second ministry Third ministry Fourth ministry Fifth ministry National Projects Bangabandhu Bridge Forces Goal 2030 Digital Bangladesh Padma Bridge Dhaka–Jessore line Rampal Power Station Ganges Barrage Project Port of Payra Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Purbachal New Town Bangabandhu-1 MRT Line 6 Matarbari Port Others State visits Gallery: Picture, Sound, Video
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Part of a series on the
Student–People's uprising
First phase Second phase
History Ohidul Islam and others v. The State Quota reform movement July massacre Internet shutdown Non-cooperation movement
Organisations Anti-discrimination Students Movement Supporters: Bangladesh Nationalist Party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti
People Nahid Islam Sarjis Alam Hasnat Abdullah Asif Mahmud Abu Sayed
Aftermath Resignation of Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Mujibur Rahman statue destruction Violence Interim government Constitutional crisis Cases against Hasina
Deaths Abu Sayed Mir Mugdho Farhan Faiyaaz Tahmid Bhuiyan Tamim Tahir Zaman Priyo Golam Nafiz
Legacy Awaaz Utha July 36 July Shaheed Smrity Foundation Museum
Politics Bangladesh
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This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2024)

Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has faced many criticism and controversies over years.

The Padma Bridge graft scandal involved the ruling Awami League government that allegedly sought, in exchange for the awarding of the construction contract, a large amount of money from the Canadian construction company SNC-Lavalin. The allegations were subsequently found to be false and without merit, and a Canadian court subsequently dismissed the case.^[1]

As a result of the allegations, the World Bank pulled out of a project to provide funding for the Padma Bridge, citing corruption concerns, cancelling ৳10241.346 crore (US$860 million) of credit for the 6-kilometre-long (3.7 mi) road-rail bridge over the Padma River.^[2] One of the individuals implicated was Minister of Communications Syed Abul Hossain who subsequently resigned and was later acquitted of any wrongdoing.^[3] On 11 July 2012, BNP General-Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the Awami League government should make public a letter sent by the World Bank, wherein the Bank brought graft charges against Hasina and three other figures.^[4] On 17 January 2016, Hasina stated that a managing director of a bank in the United States provoked the World Bank to cancel the loan.^[5] The bridge was eventually constructed with the government's own funds and was inaugurated in June 2022 at a cost of ৳30193.39 crore (US$2.5 billion),^[6] much higher than the original projected cost of ৳10161.75 crore (US$850 million).^[7]

On 24 January 2017, in a speech in parliament, Prime Minister Hasina blamed Muhammad Yunus for the World Bank's pulling out of the project.^[8] According to her, Yunus lobbied with the former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to persuade the World Bank to terminate the loan.^[9] On 10 February 2017, a justice of the Superior Court of Ontario dismissed the bribery-conspiracy case for lack of any evidence.^[1]

In 2018, Hasina's government passed the controversial Digital Security Act, 2018, under which any criticism deemed inappropriate by the government over the internet or any other media could be punished by prison terms of various degrees. This was heavily criticised both domestically and internationally for suppressing people's freedom of speech, as well as undermining press freedom in Bangladesh.^[a]

In December 2022, the Hasina government ordered the closure of 191 websites accused of publishing "anti-state news" citing intelligence reports. Dhaka district authorities ordered the closure of Dainik Dinkal, which is owned by Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Dainik Dinkal appealed the order to the Bangladesh Press Council who dismissed their appeal in February 2022, resulting in its closure.^[15] The move has been criticised by government opponents who claim the move is an attempt to stifle opposition to the government.^[15] The government claimed Dainik Dinkal violated articles 10, 11, 16, 21(1)(kha) of the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973 as it had irregular publication and its publisher was a convicted felon.^[16]

In June 2024, Sheikh Hasina paid a state visit to New Delhi, during which Bangladesh and India signed ten bilateral agreements, including one on allowing India a rail corridor to its northeastern states through Bangladeshi territory. This led to widespread criticism in Bangladesh on the issue of the country's sovereignty, accusing Hasina of "selling the country to India".^[17][18]

Domestically, Hasina has been criticised as being too close to India, often at the cost of Bangladesh's sovereignty.^[17][18] She is seen by her critics as a manifestation of India's interference in Bangladeshi politics,^[19][20] which they have described as the main source of her power.^[21][22]

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