Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, has made bold accusations against the United States, alleging that the US played a crucial role in her removal from power due to her refusal to hand over Saint Martin Island. Hasina claimed that the island was key for the US to assert control over the Bay of Bengal, a move she staunchly opposed.
In a statement shared through her close associates and reported by Indian media, Hasina explained her decision to resign from her position as Prime Minister, emphasizing that it was done to prevent further violence in Bangladesh. “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies,” Hasina stated, implying that her departure was necessary to avoid bloodshed. She further warned the people of Bangladesh not to fall victim to radical manipulation, urging them to resist being swayed by extremists.
Hasina expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing violence and the killing of political leaders in Bangladesh. She reaffirmed her commitment to the Awami League, the party her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founded. “My heart cries upon receiving news that many leaders have been killed, workers are being harassed, and their homes are subjected to vandalism and arson… With the grace of almighty Allah, I will return soon. Awami League has stood up again and again. I shall forever pray for the future of Bangladesh, the nation which my great father strived for,” she said.
Referring to the recent student protests and the quota movement, Hasina clarified that her words had been distorted to incite unrest. She urged young students to watch the full video of her speech and not to be misled by those seeking to destabilize the nation.
The former Prime Minister had to flee Bangladesh on Monday and sought refuge in India. Her departure followed increasing tensions and her accusations that the US was attempting to implement a regime change in Bangladesh, a claim she had previously raised in April during a parliamentary session.
Sources close to the Awami League have also accused the US of orchestrating the recent unrest in Bangladesh, alleging that a senior US diplomat who visited Dhaka in May was involved in pressuring Hasina to take action against China. The sources further claimed that former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas favored the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) during his term.
In a related development, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned in December 2023 that the US would use all its powers to overthrow Hasina’s government if she were to come to power again. Zakharova suggested that the US might create a situation similar to the ‘Arab Spring’ to bring about chaotic regime change in Bangladesh.
