The former prime minister said Bangladesh could witness the return of the “dark days” of the period between 2001 and 2006, when the BNP was in power, due to the rise of militant and extremist forces. Sheikh Hasina warned in an e-mail interview.
Hasina, who has been living in self-exile in India since the fall of her Awami League government due to student-led protests in 2024, also promised that she would return to Bangladesh “very soon”, but indicated that her return was linked to the “democratic environment” along with the restoration of political rights. The Awami League is currently banned in Bangladesh and Hasina has been sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal. Edited excerpts:
After a period of self-imposed exile in India, he returned to Bangladesh on May 17, 1981. Under the current circumstances, do you hope to return to Bangladesh any time soon?
May 17 is a very emotional and memorable day for me. On that day in 1981, after six years of exile, having lost my parents, brothers and relatives, I returned to the country relying only on the love of the people of Bangladesh. Yet, there were conspiracies against me, cases were filed against me and my life was under threat.
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The matter of withdrawal does not depend on any particular date or time. We continue to work towards ensuring the restoration of a democratic environment, freedom of expression, political rights and rule of law in Bangladesh. This is necessary not only for my return but also to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the country and ensure the overall welfare of the people. By uniting the people of the country, we will soon achieve that goal.
But I want to make one thing very clear: my absence does not mean my silence. I am fighting for the country every moment and we are working actively at the diplomatic level, within the international legal framework and through the global media.
I have survived 19 assassination attempts but no one could stop me. Since God has kept me alive, I will soon return to the land of Bangladesh.
Will your comeback be possible considering the ban on Awami League and the many cases against you?
Awami League is a party of the people, it was not born on the strength of guns or with the blessings of power. No restriction written on paper can ever suppress this party. If sanctions could have suppressed the Awami League, Bangladesh would never have been born.
The party has come back stronger again and again. Those who consider this ban permanent should look at the pages of history. While this restriction may reflect a temporary exercise of power by those in power, it is actually a reflection of their fear. they are afraid Awami League Because if the party is allowed to carry on democratic political activities in an organized manner, it will become difficult for them to continue their anti-state activities. That’s why this restriction exists.
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Lakhs of our supporters and hundreds of thousands of leaders and workers are still in Bangladesh. Despite attacks, lawsuits, imprisonment and harassment, they remain united. In the interest of the country and its people, the return of Awami League is inevitable – it is only a matter of time.
Are steps being taken to restructure and reform the party as some leaders have indicated that the Awami League is acceptable to them without Sheikh Hasina?
Awami League is a democratic party. Ideological workers are the life of this party and they elect the leadership. Whether you call it improvement or adjustment, it is a normal and ongoing process. Since the Awami League is the largest political party in Bangladesh, in some cases allegations or complaints may surface against certain individuals associated with the party. Awami League never tolerates wrongdoing.
At the same time, we must remember that in the name of purification or revolution, political rivals often conspire to break rival parties. I want to say clearly that Awami League has the ability to organize its own house. This reform process will take place through the internal democratic processes of the Party, and not according to the prescriptions of the conspirators.
Will other Awami League leaders who left the country return?
I disagree with the term “leaders who left the country” because none of them left voluntarily. The illegal interim government led by Muhammad Yunus carried out what has been described as a silent political genocide against Awami League leaders and supporters, and it still continues. About 600 of our leaders and workers were brutally murdered and more than 150,000 leaders and workers were arrested on false cases. Their homes and businesses were ransacked and confiscated.
Thousands of officers and employees in administration, law enforcement agencies and government jobs were dismissed for supporting the spirit of the liberation war and adopting the ideals of the Awami League. In such a terrible situation, many people were forced to leave Bangladesh to save their lives. Many of them are working to organize the party and prepare international public opinion. I want to say that as soon as minimum democratic environment and rule of law is restored in Bangladesh, they will return.
Bangladesh is facing economic crisis. What are your thoughts on how this is being handled?
Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded Bangladesh with the dream of building a prosperous country free from hunger, poverty and discrimination. During the four terms in government after 2008, through long-term planning and disciplined implementation processes, we built Bangladesh on a strong foundation. We implemented big projects like Padma Bridge, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Matarbari Deep Sea Port. In 2006, the final budget of the BNP-led four-party government was 70,000 crore taka (about $5.7 billion), per capita income was $482 and the country’s GDP size was $70 billion. The last budget we presented for 2024-25 was ₹797,000 crore (about $64.86 billion), per capita income was $2,784 and GDP was $450 billion.
The interim government led by Yunus destroyed the country’s economy. Big industrial institutions have been closed due to mob violence. Due to serious breakdown of law and order, foreign investment has fallen to its lowest level. In just 18 months he borrowed Tk 373,000 crore from domestic and foreign sources. This trend has continued under the government led by Prime Minister Tariq Rahman. In just three months, they have borrowed about 100,000 crore taka (about $8.14 billion). The economy is on the brink of disaster – there is no electricity, no oil, no gas, no fertilizers, no irrigation water. Employment opportunities have reduced while prices of goods have increased.
Under the caretaker administration and BNP government, Bangladesh seems to be moving closer to China and Pakistan, while anti-India rhetoric is on the rise. How do you see it?
The basic principle of our foreign policy is “friendship with all, malice towards none.” The main objective of this friendship is public welfare. This principle is enshrined in our Constitution. The Awami League government has always maintained transparent, trustworthy and normal relations with all friendly countries and extended their cooperation.
Our relationship with India is historical. India is not only our neighbor, but its contribution to our liberation struggle is undeniable. However, in our country, anti-India rhetoric has long been one of the main tools of anti-liberation and ideologically bankrupt groups. Yunus’s interim government joined this practice.
Our political opponents always accused Awami League of “selling the country” to India and signing anti-national agreements. Yet during the 18 months of the interim government and under the BNP government, they have failed to present a single anti-national agreement.
Under the Yunus-led interim government and the current government, we are seeing Bangladesh’s interests being sacrificed again and again.
Extremism and extremism are not only a threat to Bangladesh but also one of the biggest threats to regional security. During the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami coalition government from 2001 to 2006, Bangladesh became a safe haven for terrorism. Bomb attacks were carried out simultaneously in 63 districts and grenade attacks were carried out against me. Judges were assassinated and cultural institutions and places of religious worship were attacked. Incidents like smuggling of 10 trucks of illegal weapons took place under government protection.
After coming to power, Awami League declared zero tolerance against extremism and put all its strength to free the country from extremism…
But after August 5, 2024, we saw convicted top terrorists, who were jailed, being released… Many convicted persons involved in militancy and terrorism entered Parliament. The dark days of 2001-06 are on the verge of returning again. The specter of insurgency has also spread among members of the armed forces and law enforcement. This is undoubtedly a big threat to the security of the country.
