This past January, Sheikh Hasina won her fifth term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, but the following months were tumultuous. Allegations of electoral fraud, weeks of protests regarding the quota system, and demands for her resignation plagued her tenure. Eventually, she had to bow down to the protesters,
resign, and even leave her own country which she had governed for 15 years.
The circumstances surrounding her resignation and departure from Bangladesh are now being linked to 'foreign interference'.
Her son, Sajeeb Wazed, has expressed suspicions of American involvement behind the coup. Speaking to Aaj Tak, he stated, 'America does not want a strong government. They desire a weak government in Bangladesh that they can control, and they couldn't control Sheikh Hasina.'
Noted analyst Brahma Chellaney also pointed to a foreign angle. He wrote on social media, 'Sheikh Hasina brought rapid economic development to Bangladesh. However, powerful external forces opposed her. China was upset with her decision to hand the Teesta project to India, and unfortunately, even President Biden turned against her.'
Although allegations point to U.S. involvement in this coup, Sheikh Hasina had hinted at it a few months prior. She mentioned during a meeting, without naming the U.S., that she was being pressured by a foreign country.
What Did Sheikh Hasina Say?
This May, Sheikh Hasina revealed that she received an offer from a foreign nation stating that if she allowed them to build an airbase in Bangladesh, her re-election would be secured effortlessly.
Sheikh Hasina stated, 'If I permit a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, I would face no difficulties.' She did not name the country but mentioned receiving the offer from a 'white man'. At that time, she remarked that her government would always face crises, but there was no need to worry about it.
When asked about the 'white man', she said, 'I told them clearly that I am the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We won our liberation struggle. I do not want to come to power by renting or handing over any part of the country to another country.'
A Conspiracy to Create a Christian Nation!
Sheikh Hasina claimed that there was a conspiracy to carve out parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar to form a Christian nation.
'They want to create a Christian nation in the Bay of Bengal with bases, similar to East Timor, involving parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar,' she said, hinting at America's involvement.
East Timor became an independent country in 2002 with significant American presence. The U.S. spends millions of dollars there annually.
Source: aajtak
America Was Unhappy with the Elections!
Bangladesh held general elections on January 7 of this year, which the opposition boycotted. Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League, won 224 out of 300 parliamentary seats.
Only 40% of eligible voters participated in this election, leading the opposition to accuse the Awami League of rigging, though the party claimed the election was free and fair.
Post-election, the U.S. expressed its dissatisfaction. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller commented, 'Reports of thousands of opposition leaders being arrested and election-day irregularities have troubled us.'
'This was not a free and fair election, and unfortunately, not all parties participated,' Miller stated.
Sheikh Hasina’s Major Accusation Against America
Last year, while addressing Parliament, Sheikh Hasina launched a significant attack against America, without directly naming the country. She stated, 'They can topple any government, especially in Muslim countries.'
'This nation deceives us with its talks of democracy. Our opposition applauds and dances to them,' she remarked.
'They can overthrow any government, especially in Islamic countries. As long as they controlled Islamic nations, everything was fine,' Sheikh Hasina added.
Why are Such Allegations Made Against America?
America has often been accused of toppling governments in various countries. Supporting opposition parties or funding terrorist groups to incite rebellion are common claims.
In 1953, Iran's elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, was ousted, with America's involvement. Mossadegh had nationalized oil, angering Western countries, and the plot to remove him began. Last year, the CIA admitted the removal of Mossadegh was undemocratic.
America also had key roles in the fall of governments in Guatemala (1954), Congo (1960), South Vietnam (1963), Brazil (1964), and Chile (1973).
In his 2007 book 'Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq,' American author Stephen Kinzer detailed how toppling elected governments and orchestrating coups were central to U.S. foreign policy. He wrote, 'America did not hesitate to overthrow regimes that stood in the way of its political and economic objectives.'
Similarly, The Washington Post reported in 2016 that America attempted coups in 72 countries during the Cold War.
After the 9/11 attacks, America invaded Afghanistan, ousting the Taliban and establishing an interim government led by Hamid Karzai, who later became president. Ashraf Ghani succeeded him in 2014, but the Taliban returned to power after America's military withdrawal in August 2021.
In 2003, America invaded Iraq, deposing Saddam Hussein. Hussein was arrested and executed in December 2006.
Two years ago, when Imran Khan’s government in Pakistan fell, America was blamed. A leaked document last August revealed that America had told the Pakistani ambassador to remove Imran Khan from power.
The document revealed that U.S. State Department officials had discussions with the Pakistani ambassador in March 2022, suggesting that Pakistan would have good relations with America if Imran Khan was removed. Earlier, Imran Khan had also accused America of being behind his fall.
