A recent audio clip shared by the Awami League has brought global attention to the harrowing escape of ousted Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Rehana. The voice note, which captures the emotional recounting of their flight from Dhaka, highlights the political turbulence and personal danger faced by the 77-year-old leader.
“Allah Saved Me”: Sheikh Hasina Speaks of Narrow Escapes
In the audio, Sheikh Hasina, speaking in a trembling voice, praises Allah for sparing her life, while accusing her political opponents of orchestrating attempts to kill her.
“We escaped death by just 20-25 minutes. I feel surviving the killings on August 21, surviving the bomb in Kotalipara, or surviving on August 5, 2024, there must be a will of Allah, hand of Allah. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived this time,” she says in Bangla.
Sheikh Hasina refers to multiple assassination attempts, including the deadly August 21, 2004 grenade attack, which claimed the lives of at least 24 people and left her injured. She also mentions the Kotalipara bomb plot of July 2000, where explosives were discovered at a venue she was scheduled to visit. These events underscore the long-standing threats to her life amid Bangladesh’s volatile political landscape.
“Without My Country, My Home”
The former prime minister’s voice breaks as she describes the personal toll of her exile.
“I am suffering, I am without my country, my home, everything has been burned,” she says in the emotional recording.
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After resigning on August 5, 2024, and fleeing Bangladesh minutes before a mob stormed and ransacked her residence, Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India. Her departure followed a violent turn in a student-led movement and escalating threats against her life.
Bangladesh’s Request for Extradition
Amidst ongoing political strife, the Bangladesh government, now led by an interim administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed receiving the request but has refrained from making any public comments.
Sheikh Hasina’s flight and the subsequent attacks on her political allies and Hindu minorities have added strain to India-Bangladesh relations. Her family’s historically strong ties with India contrast with the current tensions arising from the political upheaval in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been a central figure in Bangladesh’s political history. Despite facing numerous threats and allegations, including corruption charges, she remains a symbol of resilience. In her recent audio message, she asserted her survival was due to Allah’s will, suggesting she still has a mission to fulfill.
This gripping audio note not only highlights the personal trials of Sheikh Hasina but also underscores the deep political divides and instability within Bangladesh. The world watches closely as the nation navigates this tumultuous chapter in its history.
