Sheikh Hasina

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has clearly said that her return to her homeland will be possible only when participatory democracy is restored in the country, the ban on Awami League is lifted and free, fair and inclusive elections are conducted.

In a special email interview given to news agency PTI, Hasina made a scathing attack on the current interim government and its chief Mohammad Yunus. He said that the Yunus government is harming relations with India and promoting fundamentalist forces. 78-year-old Hasina left the country and came to India in August 2024 amid protests.

Deep relations with India, threat from Yunus’s policy

Hasina said that relations between Bangladesh and India are deep and wide and this relationship will remain stronger than the foolish gap policies of the Yunus government. Thanking the Government of India for giving him shelter, he said that I am grateful to the government and people of India who gave me shelter in their place. The former Prime Minister alleged that Yunus’s attitude towards India was hostile and suicidal. He said that he is a weak ruler, who is anarchic and dependent on the support of extremists. Hopefully, they don’t make too many mistakes.

Condition of return- participatory democracy and fair elections

Hasina said that her decision to return to the country is related to the democratic aspirations of the people. Hasina said that the most important condition for my return is that of the people, the return of participatory democracy and lifting of the ban on Awami League.

When asked whether his government mishandled the protests, he said that we had lost control of the situation, which was unfortunate. But some so-called student leaders were also responsible for inciting violence. Hasina rejected reports of an election boycott, saying that if the Awami League was kept out of the elections to be held in February, they would not be legitimate.

Yunus government encouraged extremists

Hasina alleged that Yunus has misled some liberal sections of the western countries. Hasina described the allegations against her as an act of political vendetta and said that she was ready to face trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC). Hasina said that if Yunus has confidence in me, then present me in ICC. But they know that an impartial court will acquit me.