Dhaka, Aug. 1 -- Bangladesh's Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, on Wednesday likened the regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to that of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, describing it as authoritarian, repressive, and intolerant of dissent. He made the remarks while addressing a commemorative event on the anniversary of the historic July-August Uprising.

Speaking as the chief guest at the programme titled "July Uprising and the Journey of Democracy", organised by the Bangladesh Embassy in Mexico City, the ambassador said the ousted government led by Hasina was a "carbon copy" of Mussolini's fascist regime.

"Just as Mussolini built a sycophantic circle around himself, a similar culture of blind loyalty emerged und...