Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke openly on several important issues in her first press conference held in Delhi after being ousted from power. Hasina, who attended the event via video conferencing, said that she was forced to leave the country but her relationship with the people of her country never broke. During her address, she appeared emotional several times and remembered her father, family and those who were martyred in the 1971 Liberation War.
Sheikh Hasina said that she has been watching the situation in Bangladesh with concern for the past two years. According to her, today’s Bangladesh is completely different from the country for which millions of people sacrificed their lives. She said that the current situation in the country continues to cause her grief.
Reaction to Bangladesh Student Movement 2024
Sheikh Hasina responded to the student protests of July-August 2024. She alleged that while the movement was initially limited to student demands, some organized groups later turned it into a political weapon. She stated that her government attempted to manage the situation through dialogue, legal process, and patience, but the movement’s objective became her resignation. Regarding the question of returning to Bangladesh, she simply stated that she would provide information at the appropriate time.
Sheikh Hasina has reacted sharply to the death sentence handed down in absentia by the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity. She stated that false trials, fabricated charges, and the death sentence cannot deter her. She described the entire process as unconstitutional and politically motivated. She also claimed that she did not leave Bangladesh voluntarily, but was forced to leave within 30 to 40 minutes after protesters approached the Prime Minister’s residence.
The Indian government distanced itself from the program.
Prior to Sheikh Hasina’s press conference, the Indian government clarified that it had no connection with the press conference. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the government does not support the views expressed on this platform. He also reiterated that while granting asylum to Sheikh Hasina, India has ensured that Indian soil is not used for political activities against any other sovereign country. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has already expressed its objection on this issue and believes that such political statements from India could impact relations between the two countries.