Bangladesh’s ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with Reuters, has revealed plans for her future, who is currently seeking refuge in India after Bangladeshi citizens toppled her government after she proposed reservations in government jobs.
“not return to Bangladesh, remain in India”
- Bangladesh’s ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently living in India under refuge after her government was dethroned and her party, Awami League, was banned from contesting in the upcoming elections to be held in 2026. After Hasina proposed reservations in the government jobs, a huge protest erupted against Sheikh Hasina. It was initiated by the youths, later supported by people of all ages.
- Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh and came to India for protection after people wanted her to be arrested. She has been living in India since August 2024 under heavy caution; Bangladeshi extremists have been demanding Sheikh Hasina's extradition from the Indian Government. After more than a year, she has appeared and revealed her plans in the media in an emailed interview with Reuters.
- She has revealed that she plans to live in India until all the bans on the Awami League are lifted, and freedom and democracy are established. She said, “The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is self-defeating, and the next government must have electoral legitimacy. Millions of people support the Awami League, so as things stand, they will not vote. You cannot disenfranchise millions of people if you want a political system that works.”
- She says she is free in India but lives under heavy caution: "live freely in Delhi but remain cautious, given my family's violent history," referring to the 1975 assassination of her father and brothers. On August 15, most of her family members were murdered by Bangladeshi army personnel as part of a military coup d'état. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the father of Bangladesh, referred to as Bangabandhu, meaning "Friend of Bengal".
- Bangladesh is now being ruled by the interim government headed by Nobel Prize laureate Mohammed Yunus. His government has promised to conduct elections in February. Ex-Prime Minister Khalida Ziya is one of the top choices for the post.
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