New Delhi: In her first public address since being ousted as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and fleeing to India, Sheikh Hasina reflected on her family’s role in the 1971 Liberation War, the alleged assassination attempts against her, and emphasised the importance of educating Bangladesh’s youth about their history. She also highlighted how it was her party, the Awami League, that brought about a ‘Digital Bangladesh’.
She accused Dr Muhammad Yunus, head of the country’s interim government, of being the “mastermind” behind mass killings and criticised the government for failing to protect minorities, “handcuffing” the opposition, and targeting Awami League members.
Hasina reportedly delivered these remarks, in Bangla, during a virtual address to her Awami League supporters at a New York event Sunday to observe “Bijoy Dibos”, commemorating the defeat of Pakistani forces in Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.
On 5 December, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, which is investigating Hasina for “mass murder” and other charges, banned the dissemination of her “hate speech”.
Here’s a full transcript of the speech, the audio of which has been accessed by ThePrint.
The speech
My father, brother and all others were imprisoned. The victory of 1971 was hard-won by my family for Bangladeshis.
The great freedom struggle in 1971 was for the common people, the downtrodden and the Awami League fought for it. We fought for the rights of people. The aim was to free the oppressed. My father (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) was determined to go through any torture for the freedom of the people.
When on the night of 25 March, 1971, Pakistanis had initiated genocide, all of us suffered. He was placed under house arrest by Pakistani soldiers on 25 March, midnight, just after declaring Bangladesh as independent. What the population suffered under Pakistan’s rule cannot be narrated in words. Mujibur was ready to give his life for his people. Remember his iconic speech for freedom on 7 March in 1971, where he declared that this fight is a fight for liberty, fight for freedom? He asked the people to be prepared for war with whatever they had and fight for their independence.
My father then created a council for fighting for freedom and it was that group which led to the freedom of the country. But he was arrested. He was kept in jail in Pakistan. He suffered a lot. We had asked for help from India which helped us a lot. India joined the war on 3 December, 1971, and that helped us.
Post-independence, my mother, my sister (Sheikh) Rehana, brother (Sheikh) Russell were all picked up, tortured and put in jail. That was painful. They were released on 16 December. We were still jailed. On 17 December, we were released.
We suffered for the people and the people stood by us. We are thankful for that. On 16 December, the constitution was adopted which had heard the demands of every Bangladeshi.
On 15 august, 1975, my father, along with his family members—my mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, my brothers Sheikh Russel, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal—were mercilessly killed. My 5-year-old niece was killed. My only uncle Sheikh Abu Naser was killed, too.
The history of Bangladesh is distorted. Post the killing of my family, martial law was put in place. Fundamental rights of the citizens were snatched. Every Awami League worker was arrested and jailed. My sister and I were not here at the time. After the coup, we were barred from returning to Bangladesh. On 17 May, 1981…Awami League council decided that I should be brought back and reinstated.
Despite America’s attempts, I came back because of the love of the Bangladeshis and the power they gave me. I then established a government.
In 2001, a conspiracy was hatched to not let me come back to power. I was arrested. It was chaos and Awami League workers were killed and a terrorist state was created….
I want to address the expatriates, that whenever I returned to Bangladesh, I got your support. The expatriates have also contributed to the Bangladeshi struggle. We humbly acknowledge the contribution of the expatriates in all parts of Bangladesh, be it economic, political or legal.
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Today, when Bangladesh is in a chaotic situation, stripped of its rights even globally, the expatriates have stood by us. I am ecstatic to be able to talk to all of you. When I was arrested in 2007, there were various incidents, but elections were held and Awami League won 233 seats, while then BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), Jamaat (Jamaat-e-Islami) and independents just won 30 seats.
In 2009, we came back to power till 2024.
We have been voted consistently to power because Awami League has always worked for the benefit of its people. I have made sure everyone earns. The impoverished were looked after and average poverty was reduced. Poverty has been cut by half.
Bangladesh saw 6.94 percent economic growth in the 2020-21 fiscal year…later, Covid-19 and a few wars affected our economy a bit.
Our economy was stable, growing at a rate of 7.2 percent, despite the wars and Covid-19, unlike under the earlier BNP govt. We made a budget for this year at Tk 7,97,000 crore—unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s economy is the 35th largest in the world because of all these economic measures.
It was our aim to make Bangladesh the best economy by 2021. I had written about this while in jail in 2007. We will make Bangladesh prosper to increase the dignity of the people and make the economy stronger. We fulfill all our promises.
In 2021, Bangladesh was recognised as one of the fastest-growing economies. Since 1975, no government had been able to stabilise the economy. It was only under the Awami League’s leadership, during the golden jubilee year of our independence struggle, that we achieved this milestone.
No one was without food in the country, trade and development was going well, books were given for free, education was also supported, and higher education was funded well with scholarships. We also ensured that crops grown in winter are grown well all year long. We ensured electricity in all homes. In 2006, Bangladesh had an electricity generation capacity of only 3,000 MW. Under our leadership, we increased it to 5,000 MW. Earlier, only those who could afford electricity had access to it, now everyone can access it. From 2009 to 2024, the growth of Bangladesh was the reason behind Awami League’s repeated re-election, although the opposition boycotted it.
The quota issue was suddenly brought up again, despite it being abolished in 2018. I had ended it following the protests. Yet, they shifted their focus to attacking the freedom fighters—those who shed their blood, sacrificed their lives, and whose families endured loss for this nation. Had they not fought, would the country be free today? Today Bangladesh is free because of these people. They are the ones who were attacked. This is completely shocking.
The youth of our country, those who are perhaps 15 years or younger, I want to tell you something.
From 2009 to now, do you know the condition of the country? Before 1971 did anyone have education, or a mobile phone in their hands? No! I ensured that everyone has a telephone and everyone has a mobile phone. TV, mobiles, banks, aircraft, helicopter services and industrial services were provided for this country’s betterment.
Freelancers in urban and rural areas were trained for employment. We ensured reservation in education, training in computer and technical training in zonal areas as well. Awami league ensured Wi-Fi connections and satellites so that communication faces no hurdle. No one apart from us did any of this because the BNP and others had no intention of doing any such things. We brought the first satellite. In 2023, internet users were 77.36 million and 18 crore people used sim cards. We ensured digital centres and 3,000 digital sewas for the country. We have 7 lakhs freelancers and this is how we ensured the country grew.
I just want to address the youth of the country who were born 10 years ago, 15 years ago, I want you to go back in time and look at the condition of the country in 2007 or 2008 and compare it to the digital Bangladesh of 2024.
It is unfortunate that we brought a digital Bangladesh and then it was used to frame a conspiracy against us to push us out of power.
False propaganda was spread against us to mislead people. The protests were against a system I had already removed. It then goes to the High Court.
The students began this movement in 2007. We addressed it then by deploying police forces. On 11 July, 2011, the quotas were abolished, and the matter was resolved. During discussions, I agreed to all their demands, yet the protests continued. Why? The real motive was to remove me from power. Today, we see these protesting students have insulted, even killed people.
Our official organisations were vandalised. Awami League members were killed and houses were attacked. Mosques, mazars, monasteries and churches were vandalised. No place was left where attacks were not carried out. But why? When we accepted all their demands, they wanted me to resign. The murder case of Abu Sayed (a student who was shot and killed by the police), became a tool to manipulate public sentiment, and the entire movement was built around it. The video of the incident needs to be analysed. Think about it—when he was shot, instead of rushing him to a hospital, his body was taken away. They should have taken him to a hospital right away, helped him survive. Instead, they brought him to the hospital only at 8 pm. Yes, the police fired rubber bullets, and he was injured, but no one dies from injuries caused by rubber bullets.
If you see the video carefully, when a person is shot and they fall, you should be seeing blood, but the video doesn’t have any blood. When the protestors hit the police with lathi and threw stones, one hit a police officer and we saw blood, but we don’t see this in Abu Sayed’s video. We see him raising his hands and then he falls down. Will anyone answer my question as to why he was not taken to a hospital? When the post-mortem report came, the doctor was pressured and the report was changed. Police had not used any metal bullets. I am sure of it. Rubber bullets are used by all. I asked the police to not attack them. We repeatedly held meetings with them. We, like them, have protested on the streets to restore democracy. Who was insulted? Teachers, politicians—their houses were vandalised. They attacked Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. A country runs on 3 pillars—judiciary, executive and government. They destroyed all 3.
They attacked the government and made elaborate plans to assassinate me. Since we are talking about it today, let me tell you of the various plans they made to assassinate me. I did not want bloodshed. Today, whoever has died by bullet wounds has been shot at close range by people who pretended to be protestors wearing burqas. Don’t know if they were men or women.
Police used rubber bullets, but these people were using metal bullets. As soon as I heard of these 6 deaths, I gave an answer to the High Court and instituted a judicial inquiry committee. Had they been killed by me, would I have constituted a committee? My aim was to investigate the suspicious bullet wounds. These protestors have attacked 255 police stations. They looted weapons and burnt police personnel to death. Where are these weapons and who took them? One of the members of the Yunus-led govt said it themselves that it was a 7.62 mm bullet, that there was a rifle the police does not use and that needed to be investigated. As soon as he said this, Yunus removed him from his position. Why was he removed?
There were uninvestigated murders. I did not cause them. I did not want a street filled with dead bodies. Had I wanted that, I could have easily held on to power….
Look at what happened. What they had planned for 11 August 11, they did on the 5th, saying they were going to attack Gono Bhaban (the prime minister’s residence). Yes, it is a highly secured place, but had it been attacked, many innocent lives would have been lost, and I didn’t want that. Those who claimed they wanted to run a government, this is how they went about it. What kind of revolution is this? This is an orchestrated massacre. Just as they killed my father on 15 August, they want to murder me.
I was forced to remove myself from that place thinking about the people who would be affected because of me. I asked them not to attack. Today, they blame me and say I was behind mass killings. Actually, Dr Yunus meticulously planned them and was the mastermind behind these mass killings. Even Ziaur Rahman’s son said that if mass killings continue, this government would fall. These people have deliberately done this. We did not want this. This is a conspiracy. All these people are sitting in London.
Saima (Wazed, Sheikh Hasina’s daughter) is in the WHO (World Health Organization) after being elected as regional director with 8 out of 10 (votes). Sajeeb (Sheikh Hasina’s son) does consultancy. My son-in-law is out of the country too. What was their fault? Why were they targeted? Every MP of Awami league was attacked.
The most unfortunate and saddening part was the destruction of Bangabandhu’s house (personal residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) in Dhanmondi. We were not living in it but had given it to the public. Every major announcement was done in the house. The call for 1971 was given in that house. My parents were assassinated in that house. The blood was still there. My sister and I did not live in that house. We donated it to the people, trusting them. We have helped people, and even today help those who were affected in 1971. We gave out funds during Covid-19. They did not just attack Awami League members, they burnt the house in Dhanmondi. What can be worse than that? It was the last memory which kept both of us sisters alive. They completely destroyed that memory and burnt it. Those who know what it took to sustain that freedom struggle, how can they bear this? That is why I address the youth to ask them to see for themselves how Bangladesh prospered under Awami League. Why was everything destroyed?
They talk about price rise, but what is the situation like now? At least during our time, people were fed. We provided cards to 1 crore families, ensuring Tk 23 per kg of rice, and for those below the poverty line, we gave a kg of rice at Tk 15. The suffering today is a result of the attacks on the police and Awami League members. Those who looted weapons are the ones responsible for this massacre.
One policeman was seen apologising, yet he was beaten to death. Hindus, Christians, Buddhists—no one was spared. Everyone has been tortured. Temples, mosques, and mazars were desecrated, and the Hindus who protested were targeted. They even picked up the ISKCON leader and are harassing him. Why are minorities being mercilessly targeted?
Those behind these actions seem to forget that time doesn’t stay the same forever. Times change. But these incidents, the pain and the memories, will remain.
They are dismantling every organisation saying that every place is occupied by Sheikh Hasina’s people. People have lost the basic right to claim justice. I was not even given time to resign properly. We made so many efforts to establish an election commission, which was removed. They did not like it. The people sitting there now, who are they? Who established them? What government are they?
Human rights commission, public service commission have been dismantled. They were insulted and removed. What was their fault? All organisations, Awami League members, all are handcuffed. Awami League workers have been killed, those who took these workers to doctors were attacked and killed. They will be made answerable for these incidents. Today Awami League workers are out of jobs. Why are you exploiting people? Where is the law?
This kind of activity will only lead the country to chaos. There is a price rise—rice costs Tk 70-80 per kg, and the prices of potatoes and vegetables have also surged. It’s becoming unaffordable for the people. Industries and hotels have been burned down. What kind of system are they trying to establish? How are they even running the country?
They are just concerned with how they can punish me, hang me to death.
Everyone who attacked Awamil League leaders in 2008 was acquitted. Now all Awami League politicians have cases against them….
It needs to be investigated. Who is behind these attacks? The lawyer who was in court and killed upon the ISKCON leader’s arrest. Who were the people who attacked him? Aren’t they criminals? No, all the fault apparently lies with Awami League, whose members once gave the country its freedom. Those who rule the country now raise a question on whether they even believe in the concept of freedom. Is it criminal to punish those who killed Awami League members in the Liberation War? The ICT member is actually a Jamaat member. Who will look into these atrocities? The people need to be freed from such atrocities.
(Yunus) is a selfish and greedy man who took funds in the name of helping the poor. I gave him the funds worth Tk 400 crore for grameen bank. Now he uses this money to fund his lifestyle in foreign countries. Should the money not have come back to Grameen bank? He has led the country to chaos. The prize money he received as part of his Nobel prize should have come to the country. The Bangladesh of today is a country of criminals, offenders, who have destroyed economic and foreign policy. Tk 22,000 crore was destroyed in 3 months.
I want to thank the organisers of this event. I extend my heartfelt gratitude. I told the history of the country for the youth to know. The same youth that today uses mobile phones needs to know that it was the Awami League that brought it to the country. In the last 3 terms, Awami League brought progress to the country. The youth need to know.
Yunus is responsible for this massacre. This was an orchestrated massacre to come to power. One day the soil of Bangladesh will deliver justice to them. I urge the youth to know their history and the struggle that went behind the freedom that they today enjoy.
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