Sheikh Hasina Vows Justice For Awami League Victims: 'Allah Kept Me Alive For A Reason, I Am Coming'

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared, "Allah kept me alive for a reason", adding that a "day will come" when those targeting members of the Awami League will face justice.

Currently in India after being ousted from power through a nationwide movement, the Awami League leader made these remarks during an online interaction with the families of party members.

Photo Credit: PTI

Sheikh Hasina took aim at Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the former chief advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, accusing him of being "someone who never loved the people".

She criticised his microfinance practices, saying, "He loaned out small amounts at high interest rates and used the money to live lavishly abroad. We could not understand his duplicity then, so we helped him a lot.

But people did not benefit. He did well for himself. Then developed a lust for power that is burning Bangladesh now," she said, keeping her camera turned off during the interaction.

The 77-year-old claimed that Bangladesh, once hailed as a development model, had now become a "terrorist country".

"Our leaders and workers are being killed in a way that cannot be described. Awami League, cops, lawyers, journalists, artists-everyone is being targeted," she said.

She also alleged a clampdown on media freedom in Bangladesh: "Rapes, murders, dacoities, nothing can be reported. And if it is reported, the TV channel or newspaper will be targeted," she added.

Reflecting on the traumatic loss of her family-including her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh-she said, "I lost my father, mother, brother, everyone in one day. And then they did not let us return to the country. I know the pain of losing your own. Allah keeps protecting me, maybe he wants to get some good done through me. Those who have committed these crimes must be punished. This is my pledge."

During the interaction, families of murdered Awami League leaders and workers shared their stories. Responding to one grieving woman, Hasina said, "These are not humans, they will face justice. Allah will not tolerate this."

To another supporter, she replied, "You will do justice, the way I did justice after my parents were killed. We will find them, the day will come. I believe this, or I would not be alive."

When a supporter asked after her wellbeing, Hasina simply said, "I am alive, son." Another supporter wished for her return to power, to which she responded, "He will. That's why Allah has kept me alive. I am coming."

Her forceful comments come as the interim Bangladeshi government reportedly seeks her extradition from India. During the BIMSTEC summit, Md Yunus raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused Hasina of making "inflammatory remarks" and "trying to destabilise the situation in Bangladesh."

According to a statement, he urged the Indian government to "take appropriate measures to restrain her from continuing to make such incendiary statements while she remains in your country."

India, meanwhile, has raised concerns with Dhaka regarding alleged atrocities against minorities. Md Yunus has dismissed these claims, stating that the reports were "hugely inflated" and "the bulk of them were fake news."