New Delhi: Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday made her first public address at a press conference since she was ousted from power exactly two years ago after a student-led protest. At the meeting, she declared that she intends to return to Bangladesh despite the risk of imprisonment or death.
Her son, Sajeeb Wazed, gave a graver warning—Bangladesh has become a “failed state” and it could “turn into another Pakistan” if its current trajectory continues, which could be a worry for India, he said.
He added that in the next decade, terrorists would enter India from Bangladesh instead of Pakistan because ISI has been given a free rein in the country.
“What should concern India most is Bangladesh has become another Pakistan on India’s eastern front,” he said.
Wazed alleged that Islamist militant organisations had become increasingly active and claimed that convicted extremists had been released from prison in Dhaka post Hasina’s ouster.
“Foreign intelligence services, especially ISI, have an open hand. Militants, hundreds and hundreds of convicted terrorists, terrorists that our government had arrested and convicted and put behind bars, have been released from prison. Hizb ut-Tahrir marches openly. Al-Qaeda operatives speak at public rallies. This is what is happening in Bangladesh. And this does not portend well for India and the world at large,” he said.
He added: “In the future, the next set of terrorists globally are going to be coming from Bangladesh. Unless this is stopped now.”
Speaking by audio link to journalists gathered at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi, Hasina accused Bangladesh’s current leadership of dismantling democratic institutions, suppressing political opponents and reversing the country’s economic progress.
“I want to return because the people deserve security, development, prosperity, and peace,” Hasina said. “They deserve a state that protects them, an economy that gives them opportunities, and a democracy that gives them rights.”
“My return… is not about power,” she added. “It is about putting Bangladesh back on the right track.”
The appearance marked Hasina’s first extended public remarks since leaving Bangladesh after months of political turmoil that ended her long tenure in office. Throughout the event, she repeatedly framed her return as a duty rather than a political calculation.
“I know I may be detained, I may be sent to prison,” she said. “They may try to enforce unjust cases, but fear cannot decide my duty to the people.”
Recalling her family’s history, Hasina became emotional while describing the assassination of her relatives in 1975. She also recounted decades of political persecution, saying she had survived repeated arrests and assassination attempts.
“There were 19 assassination attempts against me,” she said. “The attack of 21 August 2004 could not stop me. Therefore, I am not worried about my own future. I am worried about the future of Bangladesh.”
She said she plans to return to Bangladesh in December, although she did not specify a date.
“I want to go back in the month of December,” she said. “Bangladesh needs reconciliation. Bangladesh needs constitutional development and constitutional order. Bangladesh people should have their constitutional right, justice.”
Hasina accused the current authorities of eroding democratic freedoms.
“Freedom of speech must be restored. Media freedom must be protected. Judicial independence must be guaranteed,” she said. “These are not demands for one party only. These are necessary steps to save Bangladesh.”
Asked whether she or her party had communicated with Bangladesh’s current government, Wazed replied, “No, we are not in communication with the current government at all.” He added that India had treated Hasina “like a head of state” during her stay.
“Prime Minister Modi’s government has shown her the utmost respect,” he said.
Concluding the press conference, Hasina appealed directly to supporters and Bangladesh’s international partners.
“The people are the source of all power,” she said. “I believe in them, I trust them, I love them, and I will return to them.”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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