- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 08 Apr 2025 01:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
"Allah has kept me alive for a reason, and the day will come when justice will be delivered. I am coming..." said former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She has also promised to go back to her country, claiming that justice will be done for the atrocities against Awami League members and supporters. In an emotional exchange on social media with relatives of murdered party leaders. The 77-year-old leader presented a dismal picture of Bangladesh now, describing the nation, which was earlier touted as a development model, has become a "terrorist country". "Our politicians and workers are being martyred in a manner which cannot be expressed. "Party workers, policemen, lawyers, journalists, artists all are under attack," she stated, her camera being turned off throughout the dialogue.
Hasina came down heavily on the interim government in Bangladesh and its chief advisor, Muhammad Yunus, blaming him for exploiting the poor and nursing power ambitions. Gearing up against Nobel laureate, Hasina charged that he "never loved the people" and abused microcredit schemes for self-indulgence. "He lent small amounts at high rates of interest and spent the money to live well outside the country," she asserted. "We benefited him much, but others did not benefit. He made a good thing for himself. Then acquired an obsession for power that is scorching Bangladesh today.
Allah continues to shield me: Hasina
Hasina further complained of a media crackdown in Bangladesh, suggesting that rape, murder, and robbery cases were not being reported. "And if reported, the TV channel or newspaper would be targeted," she further stated. Reminding everyone of the assassination in 1975 of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Bangladesh's founding father and its first President, and of her whole family, Hasina replied, "I lost my father, my mother, my brother, all in one day. And afterward, they didn't allow us to come back to the country. I have felt the grief of losing something that belongs to you. Allah continues to shield me. Perhaps he wishes to achieve some good by me."
Members of the families, Awami League workers also shared their stories during the online interaction, to which Hasina reacted with determination. "These are not humans, they will face justice. Allah will not tolerate this," she stated. When one of her supporter asked after her health, Hasina merely responded, "I am alive, son." To another well-wisher who wished her to come back to power, she replied, "He (Allah) will. That's why He has kept me alive."
India concerned over minority atrocities
At the last BIMSTEC summit, Yunus was said to have inquired about the fate of the request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked India to hold Hasina back from issuing "inflammatory statements" that could destabilise Bangladesh. India has earlier reported concern at Bangladesh's reports of atrocity committed against minorities there. Such a report has, however, been labeled "hugely inflated" as well as the majority "fake news" by the interim government.