New Delhi – On the first anniversary of the fall of her government, exiled Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina released a statement declaring she never officially resigned and called on Awami League members to continue their struggle for “justice, peace, and religious harmony.”
The statement, issued from London, comes amid her ongoing trial in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on charges of crimes against humanity, including the alleged killing and torture of protesters during last year’s mass student-led uprising that led to her ouster. Hasina has been living in self-exile in India since fleeing Dhaka on August 5, 2024.
“Despite claims to the contrary, I never resigned from my duties as your Prime Minister,” Hasina stated in an open letter to the people of Bangladesh. “I believe in you. I believe in Bangladesh. And I believe our best days are yet to come.”
Her departure from her official residence during the August protests sparked speculation of a resignation. While authorities and the military claimed she stepped down, no formal resignation letter was ever disclosed.
In her statement, Hasina encouraged Awami League members to continue their political campaign, despite the party being banned by the interim government in May. She avoided directly naming interim leader Muhammad Yunus, but criticized the state of the country under his administration.
“Over the past year, Bangladesh has seen daily violence, attacks on the vulnerable, and the systematic destruction of our national institutions,” she said, adding that people across all sectors – from judges to teachers and military personnel – have faced arbitrary persecution without justice.
Her message also coincided with the formal opening of her ICT trial in Dhaka.
“We have endured hardship, but in that hardship, we found unity and purpose,” Hasina said. “Power belongs to the people, and no regime can suppress the will of a nation forever.”
She concluded with a rallying cry: “Together, we will reclaim the institutions that were unlawfully seized.”
Meanwhile, India has yet to act on the interim government’s extradition request for Hasina, citing incomplete procedural steps. Diplomatic ties between Dhaka and New Delhi have sharply deteriorated since Yunus assumed power, with disputes intensifying over Bangladesh’s treatment of minority communities under the current administration.
