In her first official statement since her ouster, Sheikh Hasina has made it clear she’s seeking a return to Bangladesh’s political arena, aiming to restore the old order that now faces the threat of collapse.
The most striking part of her statement was her attempt to clarify the circumstances surrounding her so-called "resignation." She claimed, "I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over your (students’) bodies, but I did not allow it. I came with power.”
This admission directly contradicts her son’s narrative, which falsely suggests that she did not resign, thereby exposing the disinformation spread by her family to destabilise the already fragile situation in Bangladesh.
If Hasina genuinely cared about the people of Bangladesh and the families of the victims who suffered under her regime, she would have reconsidered making such an assertion, especially so soon after the brutal violence that left hundreds dead, maimed, or gravely injured by the squads she unleashed on those with legitimate demands.
Hasina is notoriously known for her crude remarks and lack of empathy. Combined with the trauma of her family’s assassination by misguided military officers decades ago, one could speculate that she suffers from a psychological disorder (though I’m not a psychiatrist qualified to diagnose her).
Her recent comments blaming the US for her downfall are not surprising, given her history. Since her return to Bangladesh in 1981, Hasina has repeatedly blamed foreign powers, especially the US, for her political failures. After her party’s electoral defeat in 2001, she claimed the US orchestrated her loss because she refused to grant American energy giants gas and oil exploration rights—a claim widely regarded as false.
The bizarre story she now spins about St. Martin's Island is not new either. She and her cronies, including Rashed Khan Menon, pushed this narrative when the US pressured her administration to create a level playing field for other political parties ahead of the 2024 election. We all saw how that unfolded, with India backing her firmly once again and the Americans stepping back.
Military experts in Bangladesh have repeatedly pointed out that St. Martin's Island is not suitable for a naval base due to its geological formation. If it were, the Bangladesh Navy would have established a base there long ago.
Even if we entertain the possibility that the US had a hand in her ouster, doesn’t that also mean her own intelligence apparatus—staffed with loyalists like the sacked Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan of the National Telecom Monitoring Cell and DGFI chief Maj Gen Hamidul Haque—failed her by not alerting her to the American conspiracy? It’s not surprising, though, given that these so-called intelligence officials have historically excelled at targeting unarmed civilians while failing spectacularly in matters of national security, such as during the BDR mutiny and the Rohingya crisis.
At least Imran Khan, another South Asian leader who accused the US of orchestrating his downfall, produced a document to back his claims. What does Hasina have to show apart from her megaphone, currently on loan from India, and her notorious record of lying?
Hasina and her son’s recent PR blitz suggests they still harbour dreams of a political comeback in Bangladesh. However, they fail to grasp that her ouster has fundamentally changed the political landscape, which will not revert to the status quo of past crises in 1990, 1996, or 2007-08.
Their efforts to energise the party base with lies may inspire some, but the sense of betrayal among her party members is likely overwhelming. BBC Bangla recently reported that Awami League members are fleeing to India, legally or illegally, much like they treated opposition BNP and Jamaat members for the past 15 years, disenfranchising them and turning them into sub-human entities.
Credible reports indicate that during the morning showdown with military chiefs at Ganabhaban, Hasina was prepared to hold on to power by any means necessary, including more bloodshed. Yet today, she claims she resigned to avoid further loss of life after 400 people were killed in just two weeks.
Good riddance, Sheikh Hasina. While you may have escaped justice, you will never find peace. The memories of Abu Sayeed, Mugdho, and the hundreds of martyrs will haunt your nightmares. Meanwhile, the rest of the 170 million Bangladeshis will rebuild the nation—certainly not in your image.
The writer is a former journalist and political observer.
