Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, had intended to address the nation prior to her resignation and flight from her residence in Dhaka amid mounting protests by students.
However, she was unable to deliver her speech as demonstrators surged to her doorstep, prompting top security officials to advise her to leave the premises immediately.
According to reports, the 76-year-old Hasina confided in close associates about her undelivered speech, which she claims would have accused the United States of orchestrating a regime change in Bangladesh.
She expressed her sorrow over the current situation, stating, “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it.”
She asserted that she could have retained her position if she had relinquished sovereignty over Saint Martin Island and allowed the United States to dominate the Bay of Bengal.
“I beseech the people of my land, please do not be manipulated by radicals,” her undelivered address revealed.
Saint Martin Island, covering just three square kilometres, is located in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal and is the southernmost part of Bangladesh.
Hasina's resignation followed violent protests initiated by students against a reservation policy, which escalated into a broader confrontation with her government.
The unrest resulted in over 400 fatalities among protesters as Hasina attempted to suppress the agitation.
In her undelivered speech, she reflected, “If I had remained in the country, more lives would have been lost and more resources would have been destroyed. I made the extremely difficult decision to exit. I became your leader because you chose me, and you were my strength.”
She expressed deep concern over the targeting of Awami League leaders, assuring her supporters that she would return soon and reaffirming her commitment to the party's resilience.
“Awami League has stood up again and again. I shall forever pray for the future of Bangladesh,” she stated.
Furthermore, Hasina clarified a previous remark in which she referred to the protesting students as “Razakars,” a term historically linked to a paramilitary force during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
During the protests, Hasina had commented, “If not the grandchildren of the freedom fighters, then who will get quota benefits? The grandchildren of the 'Razakars'?” This statement ignited widespread outrage, escalating the protests further.
In her undelivered address, she emphasised, “I have never called you Razakars. Rather my words were distorted to incite you. I request you to watch the full video.”
Tension with the United States
Relations between the United States and Bangladesh soured significantly during Hasina's tenure, with Washington deeming the January elections, which saw the Awami League return to power, as neither free nor fair.
Prior to her resignation, Hasina had alleged that “conspiracies” were afoot to unseat her government, suggesting a “white man's” plot to establish a new “Christian country” out of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
In May, she had stated, “If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem,” indicating the high stakes of international relations at play.
Following her departure, the U.S. issued a statement urging respect for democratic rights in Bangladesh and called for an inclusive formation of the interim government.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the violence against peaceful protesters, stating, “We condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. We've been watching this matter very closely, both from our embassy and officials here in Washington. We have seen reports of people dying, and being killed in the protests. We again call on the government to uphold individuals' rights to protest peacefully.”
The current landscape in Bangladesh
With Sheikh Hasina no longer in power, an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus has assumed control.
Yunus has encouraged the student-led protests while urging them to safeguard the minority communities in Bangladesh. “There are many standing by to make your efforts futile. Don’t fail this time,” he urged, emphasising the importance of protecting Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm.
“Are they not the people of this country? You have been able to save the country; can't you save some families?... You must say - no one can harm them. They are my brothers; we fought together, and we will stay together,” he asserted.
The political turmoil has intensified in Bangladesh, leading to the forced resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other top judges amid massive student protests demanding a judiciary overhaul.
This wave of agitation has resulted in significant resignations among other high-ranking officials, including Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Maksud Kamal.
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