In the wake of escalating protests against reservations in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her position and fled the country. She is currently seeking refuge in India. In recent statements, Hasina has indicated her intention to return to Bangladesh soon and has made several controversial allegations, including claims of American involvement in the unrest prior to her resignation.
Hasina expressed her anguish over the violence, stating, “My heart breaks seeing the news of the killings of many leaders, attacks on party workers, and the destruction of their homes. I will return soon. The Awami League party will rise again and continue to fight. I will always pray for the future of the people of Bangladesh. My father worked hard for this country and my family sacrificed their lives for the nation. I resigned to avoid witnessing the procession of dead bodies. Opposition leaders are exploiting the situation to come to power over the bodies of students. I will not permit this. I could have remained in power if I had allowed American control over Saint Martin Island and the Bay of Bengal. I appeal to my people not to be deceived by the radicals,” she told a news agency.
On August 5, Sheikh Hasina stepped down from her position and travelled to India. Reports of her potential move to the UK followed, but she is presently residing in India. In her message, Hasina also addressed Saint Martin Island, located in the Bay of Bengal, which covers an area of 3 square kilometers and is situated 9 kilometers south of Cox’s Bazar in the Teknaf Peninsula.
Hasina further elaborated on several critical issues: “I want to reiterate to the students of Bangladesh that I never labelled you as Razakars. My words have been distorted to manipulate you. I urge you to view the full video of the events. Conspirators have used this situation to incite unrest in the country. I believe a small group from a foreign intelligence agency is behind these disturbances, with ISI being a significant player. The Bangladesh government did not mandate reservation quotas; the court only reinstated them. Therefore, there is no valid reason for protests against the government. Our government had already abolished reservations in 2018,” she explained.