New Delhi: Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has presented a five-point plan aimed at restoring democracy in Bangladesh. She called for the removal of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus and demanded an impartial international investigation into the events that led to her exile. The announcement came as campaigning began for the parliamentary elections scheduled on February 12.
Hasina, who has been residing in India since leaving Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, delivered the message through a recorded speech at a press conference organized by her supporters at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC) in Delhi. Senior Awami League leaders, including former Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen, joined the event virtually.
In her ten-minute address, Hasina accused the Yunus administration of lacking democratic legitimacy, promoting chaos, and fostering violence and corruption. She urged Bangladeshis to remain resilient and defend their democratic rights.
According to Hasina, restoring democracy must begin with the removal of the Yunus-led interim government. “As long as this administration remains in power, free and fair elections are impossible,” she said. Only after its removal can all political parties, including the Awami League, participate and return power to the people.
Her second point called for curbing daily street violence and restoring law and order to ensure normal citizen services and economic stability. The third point emphasized protecting religious minorities, women, and vulnerable groups.
In the fourth point, Hasina raised concerns about the politically motivated misuse of laws, alleging that authorities were using legal instruments to intimidate journalists, opposition leaders, and Awami League members. She urged the restoration of trust in the judiciary and the prevention of state institution abuse.
The fifth point urged the United Nations to conduct a fair investigation into the events of July–August 2024, bringing the truth to light and enabling national reconciliation and reform.
Referencing her father and Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina warned that the country faces serious threats from extremist forces and foreign interference. She called on citizens to safeguard the constitution and revive democratic governance.
Her speech comes amid political unrest that originated with student protests over education and government job quotas, which eventually spread nationwide. Following these developments, she was forced into exile, and the International Crime Tribunal had sentenced her in absentia for actions during July–August 2024.
