Sheikh Hasina, ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister, stated she will only return to Bangladesh after restoring ‘participatory democracy.’ In an exclusive interview with PTI, she emphasized the importance of free and fair elections and the lifting of the ban on her party, the Awami League.
Hasina accused the unelected interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus of harming Bangladesh’s critical relationship with India while empowering extremist groups. She expressed immense gratitude to the Indian government for their hospitality during her time in exile.
“The most important condition for my return to Bangladesh is the same condition that the Bangladeshi people require: a return to participatory democracy,” Hasina asserted. She firmly stated that the interim government must revoke the ban on the Awami League.
Bangladesh’s longest-serving leader, Hasina fled the country on August 5, 2024, following violent protests that escalated into her resignation and departure to India. Reflecting on her government’s handling of the protests, Hasina admitted, “Obviously, we lost control of the situation and that was regrettable,” while attributing the unrest to political outsiders posing as student leaders.
Regarding the upcoming elections in February 2025, she firmly dismissed rumors that she called for a boycott. Hasina emphasized, “Any election excluding the Awami League would lack legitimacy. Tens of millions of people support us… It would be a huge missed opportunity for a country that badly needs a government with genuine consent of the people.”
She leveled strong accusations against the Yunus administration, labeling his actions as detrimental to vital diplomatic ties with India. “Yunus’ hostility to India is foolish and self-defeating… He is unelected, chaotic, and dependent on extremist forces,” Hasina claimed. She assured Indian citizens that the interim government does not reflect the sentiments of the Bangladeshi populace and reaffirmed India’s status as Bangladesh’s most significant ally.
Willing to undergo international scrutiny, Hasina expressed readiness to stand trial under international supervision, including at the International Criminal Court (ICC). She suggested Yunus avoids such oversight because an impartial examination would likely exonerate her.
Hasina condemned the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal, which has sought the death penalty against her, denouncing it as a “kangaroo tribunal” aimed at politically neutralizing her party’s influence. “They want to eliminate us as political forces. The fact that they would use the death penalty to silence opponents shows how little respect they have for democracy or due process,” she stated.
Further, she criticized Yunus’s initial backing from Western liberals, which she claims is dissipating as they observe his increasing alignment with radical elements, minority discrimination, and constitutional dismantlement. Secure in her condemnation of Yunus and the interim administration, Hasina reiterated her commitment to returning to a democratic Bangladesh.
