India, Jan. 23 -- Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the people of Bangladesh to overthrow the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus as it cannot ensure free and fair polls, using her first public address to a gathering in India to target the regime in Dhaka less than three weeks before the general election scheduled for February 12.

Hasina also called for an end to acts of violence and lawlessness in Bangladesh and an "ironclad guarantee" for the safety of religious minorities, women and the most vulnerable sections of society. She demanded that the United Nations should conduct a "new and truly impartial investigation" into the events since the fall of her government.

The head of the Awami League party, who has liv...