Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has expressed her gratitude and congratulations to the people of Bangladesh from her hospital bed, calling the country “liberated” through the efforts of its “valiant children.”
This statement comes after Sheikh Hasina resigned from the Prime Minister post and left the country, leading to Zia’s release from prison. In her video message posted on social media, Zia thanked those who prayed for her health and freedom and emphasized the need to rebuild a prosperous Bangladesh from the “wreckage of democracy and piled up corruption.”
View this post on Instagram
Khaleda Zia, a two-time Prime Minister and head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was ordered to be released by President Mohammed Shahabuddin shortly after Hasina’s ouster. Convicted of corruption in 2018 and sentenced to 17 years in prison, Zia had been in hospital for most of her imprisonment due to ill health.
Despite Hasina’s resignation, violence continues to plague Bangladesh, with twenty bodies of Awami League leaders found since her departure. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, now heading the army-backed interim government, has called for calm.
ALSO READ: Hindu homes, businesses attacked in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina flees country: Report
Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, stepped down and left the country following an ultimatum from the army. She is currently in India, where Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has stated that the government is giving her time to recover before discussing her next steps.
US revokes Sheikh Hasina’s visa
Meanwhile, in a dramatic development, the United States has revoked the visa of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her tumultuous ouster amid violent protests, sources close to the US Department of State have disclosed. Hasina, who fled Bangladesh on Monday afternoon, is currently in India and was initially expected to travel to the UK.
However, her plans have hit significant snags due to “uncertainties,” making it unlikely for her to leave India in the next few days, according to informed sources.
ALSO READ: From Sorbonne to Shahbagh: The echoes of student movements
Sheikh Hasina arrived at India’s Hindon airbase with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, on Monday evening, just hours after stepping down amid massive protests. She has since been moved to an undisclosed, highly secure location.
Initially, Sheikh Hasina intended to travel from New Delhi to London. However, the British government has indicated she might not receive legal protection in the UK against potential investigations. While her sister holds UK citizenship, it remains unclear if Sheikh Hasina will join her. Additionally, there are no confirmed plans for Hasina to travel to the US, where her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, resides in Virginia.
