Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has attributed the fall of her government to the United States. Hasina has alleged that she was ousted from power for not handing over St. Martin's Island to the US, which would enable it to establish dominance in the Bay of Bengal. She has urged Bangladeshi citizens not to be influenced by extremists. It is worth mentioning that Sheikh Hasina is currently in India.
According to the Economic Times report, in a message sent through her close aides, Hasina said, 'I resigned so I wouldn't have to witness a pile of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the corpses of students, but I did not allow it. I resigned from the Prime Minister's post. I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of St. Martin’s Island to America and allowed it to establish dominance in the Bay of Bengal. I appeal to my country's people, please do not fall for extremists.'
Read Also: 'UK, US, or Finland... Where will Sheikh Hasina take refuge?' Her son Sajeeb reveals her future plans
I will soon return home: Sheikh Hasina
ET reported Sheikh Hasina saying, 'If I had stayed in the country, more lives would be lost, and more resources and public properties would be damaged. I made the extremely difficult decision to leave the country. I became your leader because you chose me; you were my strength. My heart weeps on hearing the news that many leaders of my party, Awami League, have been killed, workers are being harassed, and their homes are being vandalized and set on fire. By Allah's grace, I shall return soon. Awami League has risen repeatedly, facing challenges head-on. I will always pray for the future of Bangladesh, the nation my great father dreamed of and worked for. The country for which my father and family sacrificed their lives.'
Never called students Razakars: Hasina
Referring to the student protests over the job quota, Hasina said, 'I would like to reiterate to the young students of Bangladesh. I never called you Razakars. My words were twisted and misrepresented to instigate you. I request you to watch the entire video of that day. Conspirators took advantage of your innocence and used you to destabilize the country.' It is noteworthy that Hasina had to flee Bangladesh on the evening of August 5 and seek refuge in India. Before the anti-quota movement, Hasina had stated in Parliament in April that America was working on a strategy to change power in her country.
Read Also: 'If our enemy...', Khaleda Zia's party lashes out against India regarding Sheikh Hasina, issued a threat!
America Responsible for Power Shift
Sheikh Hasina had said, 'They are trying to end democracy and bring in a government with no democratic existence.' Sources claim that the rioters who allegedly created a ruckus protesting job reservations were actually playing into the hands of those foreign forces planning 'regime change' in Bangladesh. Some Awami League leaders close to Hasina also blamed America for the power shift in Dhaka. They say a senior US diplomat who visited Dhaka in May played a role in this.
US Pressure for Anti-China Initiative
Awami League leaders have alleged that American diplomats were pressuring Sheikh Hasina to take an anti-China initiative. One of Hasina's party leaders accused US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas of taking sides with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Haas completed his tenure in July. The US government continuously criticized Sheikh Hasina and her party regarding human rights and the electoral process. In a statement in January this year, the US State Department said that the general elections in Bangladesh were neither free nor fair because all parties did not participate.
Read Also: Hindus hit the streets against attacks in Bangladesh on August 5! Videos shared by Sheikh Hasina's party
Russia Had Warned Last Year
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a sudden press briefing on December 15, 2023, that if Sheikh Hasina comes to power in the next elections, America will use all its powers to topple her government. She warned that America would create a chaotic situation similar to the 'Arab Spring' in Bangladesh to bring about regime change. It's noteworthy that a decade ago, the 'Arab Spring' began in Tunisia and gradually spread to several countries in the Middle East, led initially by university, college, and school students.
