New Delhi: Referring to herself as the “Prime Minister of Bangladesh”, Sheikh Hasina lauded the “extraordinary leadership qualities” of Donald Trump in her congratulatory message to the incoming US President Wednesday.
In a letter signed by the office secretary of the Awami League and posted on the party’s verified social media handles, Hasina expressed hope that the “bilateral ties between the friendly countries of Bangladesh and the United States of America” would further be strengthened.
“The President of the Bangladesh Awami League, (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina, has congratulated Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America…Sheikh Hasina recalled with fondness her several meetings and interactions as Prime Minister with Donald J. Trump and Melania Trump,” said the letter.
It added: “She expressed her commitment to working together again to advance the bilateral and multilateral interests of both countries.”
Hasina was ousted from office in August and fled Bangladesh for India amid anti-government protests. The massive protests stemmed from a student movement over the reservation of 30 percent public sector jobs for the families of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War veterans.
In 2018, the Awami League government scrapped the quota for veterans. In June this year, the Bangladesh High Court restored the quota, which led to a summer of discontent.
President of Bangladesh Awami League Sheikh Hasina congratulates Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America.
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The President of the Bangladesh Awami League, (Prime Minister) #SheikhHasina, has congratulated Donald J. Trump on his… pic.twitter.com/5F1PeD9oFB
— Awami League (@albd1971) November 6, 2024
It was Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman who announced the formation of an interim government, following Hasina’s ouster. Eventually, Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Laureate and economist, became the chief adviser of the government.
ThePrint exclusively reported last month that Hasina has been living in a safe house in New Delhi’s Lutyens Bungalow Zone, arranged for her by the Government of India, for over two months
Yunus shared his “heartfelt felicitations” in a congratulatory letter to Trump.
“Bangladesh and the United States share a long history of friendship and collaboration across numerous areas of mutual interest. The relationship continued to grow in depth and breadth during your previous term in office,” Yunus wrote.
The chief adviser added: “I look forward to working together to further strengthen our partnership and foster sustainable development. I firmly believe that the possibilities are endless as our two friendly nations work towards exploring newer avenues of partnership.”
Hasina had reportedly alleged that the US, under its current administration led by Joe Biden, was behind her ouster from Bangladesh, though her son denied the reports. The US has rejected the allegation multiple times in the last two months.
However, Yunus met with Biden in September on the margins of the United Nations Summit of the Future, where the US president congratulated the Nobel laureate on being appointed as the “head of the interim government”.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)