Interview on The Wall; Not on India’s advice, Sheikh Hasina said about returning to the country, ‘When and how to return is my decision alone

Hakikul Islam Khokon

Interview on The Wall; Hasina said about returning to the country not on the advice of India, ‘When and how I will return is entirely my decision.

Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and President Bangladesh Awami League has announced that he will return to the country soon. On May 17, in a virtual meeting of the Awami League, party leader Hasina said to Tariq Rahman’s government without naming names, “Prepare the jail and gallows for me.” return my passport (Prepare a prison and gallows for me. Return my passport. Send a plane to take me away, says Sheikh Hasina)

Incidentally, on August 5, 2024, a Bangladesh Air Force plane delivered the then Prime Minister to Delhi’s Hindon Airport with state honors and security. Hasina claimed in the party meeting on May 17 that she was not informed about sending her to India. Later, the security officials told him that the decision to send him to Delhi was made as his life might be in danger if he stayed in the country.

17 May 1981. When the plane carrying Sheikh Hasina landed at Dhaka airport, people reached the door of the plane to welcome her
May 17 is a very important day for Sheikh Hasina and Awami League. 45 years ago on that day, 33-year-old Hasina returned home from India. Hasina, who was under political asylum by the Indian government for six and a half years in Delhi, was declared the president of the Awami League by her party before she returned home. After 45 years due to yet another political disaster, the announcement of Sheikh Hasina’s return home, who is staying in India, has raised a wave of discussion in Bangladesh even in the atmosphere of Idul Azhar festival. Leaders-workers-supporters of Awami League are excited by the leader’s announcement. Meetings, street meetings, processions are going on to welcome him. There has been a wave of congratulatory messages on social media. Adverse comments are coming from the government and the Awami League conflict camp. Besides, speculations have started, did he take this decision on the advice of the Indian government?A section of the Bangladeshi media is also claiming that the Indian government has advised the Awami League leader to move to a third country. However, the truth of such news has not been found from any quarter of the Indian government.

The president of Bangladesh Awami League was asked by The Wall – You recently said that you will return to the country with your head held high. Several cases are pending against you and in one case you have unfortunately been sentenced to death. In this situation, how is it possible for you to return home when the Indian government is ignoring the request of the Bangladesh government to return you?

In response, Sheikh Hasina said, ‘First of all, one thing needs to be clarified, the tribunal in which the drama is being staged in the name of trial was constituted for the trial of war criminals under the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973. The illegitimate interim government of Yunus has illegally enacted four times an ordinance, made 37 changes to the law, reconstituted the tribunal, and conducted false and politically motivated prosecutions against me. In this tribunal, the opponents of the spirit of the liberation war have been appointed as judges and prosecutors.

Hasina did not get access to Dhanmondi 32’s ancestral house even after returning to the country. Bangabandhu’s daughter cried standing outside the house.

Sheikh Hasina said, ‘The death sentence that has been given against me is not a trial, it is just a revenge for the trial of war criminals.’ Incidentally, Sheikh Hasina arranged the trial of the opponents of Bangladesh’s liberation war in this tribunal in accordance with the election promise. 70 of the accused were sentenced to death, 25 to life imprisonment. Awami League leaders including Sheikh Hasina are being tried in that tribunal. Regarding that tribunal, Sheikh Hasina said, ‘No standard of justice was followed in this kangaroo trial. I was not given an opportunity to face the case legally. A farce has been made in the name of trial on completely false charges through fabricated testimony and evidence. This was done to keep me and Bangladesh Awami League away from the political arena. This conspiracy is already clear to the countrymen.

Sheikh Hasina also said,”My father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, was imprisoned in a Pakistani prison and sentenced to death in 1971. A grave was dug next to his cell. But he did not bow down. I am his daughter. I have that education in my blood too. I have previously returned to my country with two lawsuits, death threats, imprisonment and torture by the state apparatus. Attempts have been made to kill me 19 times. But nothing could hold me back. I don’t care about death. I cannot be stopped by fear of death.’

Sheikh Hasina’s clear answer regarding the position or role of the Indian government on her return to the country, ‘India is a democratic and sovereign state. They make decisions following their own rules and international norms. Their decision is theirs alone, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter. But I can say that the decision of when and how I will return to the country is entirely mine. My strength is the people of Bangladesh and their love. I will return with the strength of the people. No illegal judgment or political conspiracy can stop me. I am ready to make any sacrifice for the people of Bangladesh.’ return. No unlawful verdict nor any political conspiracy can stop me. I am prepared to make any sacrifice for the people of Bangladesh.’

Sheikh Hasina’s political life is inextricably linked with her comeback and assassination attempt. 1981-After 2007, he ignored the fatwa of the caretaker government supported by the army of Bangladesh and returned to the country. To prevent her return, the then government even issued a hulia to the airlines telling them not to allow Sheikh Hasina to board the plane. He was returning home from the house of his son who was an American expatriate. As part of Bangladesh’s deputation, the army, top bureaucrats and some influential newspaper owners-editors tried to implement the much talked about ‘minus-two formula’ to block the return of the Awami League leader to the country. Hasina had to go to jail after returning to the country ignoring that adverse situation. Service returned on May 7, 2007. Arriving at the airport, Hasina said about the caretaker government’s decision, “Whoever made a mistake by preventing me from coming, if they do something like this again, they will make another mistake.” I can say this much.

His party describes the return as the restoration of democracy. After that, there was a long happy day for the Awami League. Awami League returned to power in the National Assembly elections held in the last year of 2008. Hasina was the Prime Minister from then till August 2024. Keeping this context in mind, the Awami League leader was asked the question of ‘The Wall’, with your political life, suicide attempt and comeback—two words are closely related. What will be the fundamental difference between your previous two returns and the next return?

May 7, 2007. Dhaka Airport. Sheikh Hasina returned to the country ignoring the fatwa of the caretaker government supported by the army.

In response to this question, Hasina said, ‘I have been tried to kill 19 times. But the self-sacrifice of my leaders and workers and the love of the people saved me time and again from enemy bullets, grenades and bombs. There was also a plan to kill me on 5th August. I was the main target. Because if I could be killed, the anti-national gang could easily implement all their conspiracies. But since God has saved me, I will once again take the people with me and rescue the country from the crisis and restore democracy.’

Regarding her first and second return, Hasina said,In 1981, I returned for the first time, ignoring the bloody eyes of the military ruler (father of the current Prime Minister Tariq Rahman and the founder of BNP, military ruler Ziaur Rahman). At that time I was a woman without family. But millions came to welcome me. They accepted me as their sister, as their daughter. That return was the return of a daughter who vowed to fulfill her father’s dream. I returned in 2007 during the Emergency, defying the ban of the army-backed government. That was also the return of the struggle. Hasina’s return day has a description of the crowd in Dhaka city and airport in her husband Wazed Mia’s book titled Some incidents around Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and Bangladesh. Hasina said at the welcome meeting in Sher Bangla Nagar, “I have come to you after losing everything, I want to sacrifice my life to avenge the killing of the father of the nation by implementing his ideals on the path indicated by Bangabandhu.”

In the interview, Sheikh Hasina detailed the background, objectives and challenges of her upcoming third comeback. He said, ‘This time’s return is completely different. This time the context is different, the challenge is different, the responsibility is also different. In 1981 I returned to reorganize a team. I returned in 2007 with the aim of restoring democracy. Now I have to return to rebuild a country. Because the BNP government formed through illegal interim government and rigged elections has destroyed every sector of the country. Every moment they are falsifying the spirit of the liberation war, destroying the current culture of the country, dividing the nation.

The solid foundation on which I built Bangladesh, improved the quality of life for all irrespective of party affiliation, took Bangladesh to a position of honor in the world, has been destroyed since August 5. Development activities have stalled. The country is being isolated diplomatically. I have to return to save the country.

He said, “There is one more difference between this comeback and the previous two comebacks. In his words,”In 1981 I returned as a grieving girl. But this time I will return as an experienced statesman. I know what the people of the country want, I know how to satisfy them. I know how to conduct development activities one after another with limited capacity, how to make the country free from militancy and terrorism, how to deliver the state facilities to the people’s doorsteps. Therefore, with the aim of rebuilding the country, even if my journey after my return is difficult, I will be able to implement it with the people. The people of the country also believe that.Source: The Wall.