I may be killed at the airport: Hasina
Fallen and fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her anxiety saying if she return to Bangladesh, she might be killed at the airport.
The autocratic ruler who had been ousted through a blood-shed student-people mass uprising in 2024 said this in a telephone interview to an Indian media outlet. In the conversation with 'The Wall’s Executive Editor Amal Sarkar, Sheikh Hasina spoke about Bangladesh’s internal affairs and her future plans.
The former prime minister responded to the question of whether she wanted to return to Bangladesh. Calling Bangladesh her country, she said she did not understand why she would not be able to return to her own country. At the same time, Sheikh Hasina pointed out that she would not return to Bangladesh due to her personal safety. “If I return, they could even kill me at the airport,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said she does not want to put others in danger too. “Everyone’s life is at risk. I do not want to endanger people’s lives by giving them orders to help me return to the country,” she added.
Rise of militants in Bangladesh, India will also have to pay the price
Sheikh Hasina expressed concern about the situation in Bangladesh during the interview, noting that she believes militants were taking over the country. The former prime minister warned that India would also have to pay the price for this development. “India will also have to pay the price for the rise of militants in Bangladesh,” Sheikh Hasina said.
According to the former prime minister, the situation in Bangladesh, a neighboring country, and the emergence of a militant threat there was threatening India’s stability and security. Therefore, Sheikh Hasina considers it vital to develop relations between the two countries and establish mutual understanding. “India and Bangladesh need to build relations based on common interests rather than strategic partnerships,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina questioned India’s policy on Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina questioned India’s foreign policy, saying that only the Indian government could answer why it supported Bangladesh’s election and facilitated Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh.
“It is for the Indian government to answer why they supported Bangladesh’s election and brought Tarique back to Bangladesh,” the former prime minister said.
Sheikh Hasina’s statement is significant in this context. By criticizing New Delhi’s approach to resolving Bangladesh’s political crisis, the former prime minister indirectly pointed out India’s role in fanning the flames of the crisis. At the same time, Sheikh Hasina emphasized that developing political relations between India and Bangladesh was necessary for the future.
Mutual understanding between neighboring states needs to be established, Sheikh Hasina pointed out, as well as joint action in confronting common threats, rather than relying on traditional geopolitical concepts such as strategic partnerships.
Criticized Tarique Rahman
Sheikh Hasina criticized BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the interview.
Speaking of the deal concerning the BNP president’s visit to India, the former prime minister said, “Negotiating over Tarique Rahman’s visit to India actually undermines his own country.” Sheikh Hasina recalled that Tarique Rahman had resigned from politics under a written undertaking that he would not seek office again. In addition, she criticized Rahman for undermining the situation in Bangladesh from abroad. “He is doing everything to turn Bangladesh into an anti-government camp,” she said.
According to the former prime minister, Tarique Rahman is behind attacks in Bangladesh. “Tarique Zia gives instructions from London: ‘Let there be bodies. The government will fall,’” Sheikh Hasina said. The wall will wait for a response from the BNP on these statements.
Who will lead the Awami League?
The question of who will lead the Awami League in Sheikh Hasina’s absence was also raised in the interview. The former prime minister pointed out that her sister Sheikh Rehana did not express any political aspirations. “Rehana is not directly involved in politics,” said Sheikh Hasina.
As for the organization’s leadership, the former leader stated that Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was the right person to lead the Awami League in her place. “Now Sheikh Selim is the senior-most presidium member. In my absence, he will perform the duties of president,” Sheikh Hasina said.
Bangladesh is being destroyed
Hasina got emotional when talking about the situation in Bangladesh. Describing the events, the former prime minister said, “My heart bleeds when I see my country being destroyed.”
She said she wants to return to Bangladesh, but her personal safety concerns prevent her. She pointed out that she did not want to put other people at risk due to her return to Bangladesh. “If I return, they could even kill me at the airport,” Hasina said.
Bangladesh’s political future, its foreign policy, and the former prime minister’s personal security were the main topics of the conversation. In addition, India’s role in Bangladesh’s internal affairs and Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh were discussed.