Sheikh Hasina Alleges US Behind Her Ouster, Says Refused to Give Up Saint Martin Island

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has spoken out for the first time since her dramatic resignation and departure to India, hinting at the United States' role in her ouster.

Hasina explained that her resignation was meant to prevent further violence, stating, "I resigned to avoid witnessing further violence. They aimed to seize power over the dead bodies of students, but I prevented that by resigning."

Photo Credit: PTI

Bangladesh is currently in a state of political flux following Hasina's resignation on August 5 amid escalating protests by students demanding an end to the controversial quota system for government jobs.

Hasina fled Dhaka in a military aircraft, fearing for her safety amid widespread violence, and is currently in a secure location in India.

An interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been established to oversee the transition and prepare for early elections.

The violence that followed Hasina's resignation has resulted in over 230 deaths, bringing the total number of casualties since the protests began in mid-July to 560.

Addressing the student protesters, Hasina clarified that her words had been distorted to incite them, insisting she never called the protesters "Razakars."

She urged them to watch the full video of her speech to understand how conspirators had exploited their innocence to destabilise the nation.

Sheikh Hasina also hinted at foreign interference in her ouster, particularly from the United States, claiming that she could have remained in power if she had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal.

She urged the people of Bangladesh not to be manipulated by radicals, and she mentioned a previous allegation of a conspiracy to create a Christian state by partitioning parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar, which she linked to her resignation.

Hasina's statements reveal her belief that powerful international forces played a role in her removal from power, raising concerns about the future of Bangladesh's sovereignty and stability.