“My father refused to give up St. Martin’s Island to America and paid for it with his life. I never imagined the same destiny would befall me because I never thought of staying in power by selling the country,” she said in her address, hinting at American interests in toppling her government and propping up Yunus.
St. Martin’s Island is geopolitically significant because of its location in the Bay of Bengal and potential military or economic leverage linked to it. In their last statements on the island, the Yunus-led interim government and the US had denied any talks on any handover of St. Martin’s.
But still, raising concerns over the intentions of Yunus, Hasina added, “Thirty lakh people took arms for the independence of this country on the call of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ceding even an inch of the soil of this land cannot be someone’s way to remain in power.”
‘Banning Awami League illegal’
Alleging that Yunus “seized power with the help of terrorist elements”, the ousted prime minister further accused the current Bangladesh administration of releasing jailed militants and enabling extremist influence in government matters.
“He has taken control with the help of terrorists and individuals banned internationally, the same people my government protected Bangladesh from,” Hasina said. “After a terrorist attack, we had acted decisively. The prisons are empty now, and the dangerous elements run free.”
Recalling the international recognition of Yunus under her regime, she said, “It is tragic that someone so beloved globally has, upon gaining power, turned against the very fabric of our nation.”
She further criticised the Yunus government for banning the Awami League, the oldest political party in Bangladesh, condemning the move as illegal and unconstitutional.
Insisting that Yunus has no constitutional mandate to ban her party, Hasina added, “The position of chief adviser has no legal basis. There is no parliament or public mandate, yet they are rewriting our constitution. It is outright illegal.”
‘He has a lot to answer for’
In a separate late-night virtual address Sunday, Hasina accused the interim government of conducting extrajudicial killings. “The Yunus Bahini is killing people openly,” a teary-eyed Hasina said. “They are on a killing spree.”
Speaking to her supporters in a two-hour-long address, Hasina vowed to reclaim the country. “I will bring back Bangladesh from his clutches. I will bring him to justice. I am not afraid.”
In one of her emotional moments, she reflected on her past association with Yunus while criticising his current alliances with opposition parties. “When I got elected, I never partnered with the BNP (Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party) or Jamaat (Bangladesh), as he does,” she said.
“They (the Yunus family) are descendants of Pakistan’s Hanadar Bahini. That is why he remains so close to Pakistan,” she added, highlighting the developing ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan since her ouster.
The word, Hanadar Bahini, is a toned-down reference to Pakistani forces or Razakars against whom the 1971 Liberation War was fought.
Hasina also admitted she might have misjudged Yunus—a remark that she has repeated. “I made a mistake in 2001. I should have taken my revenge then. I gave him too many chances,” she said. “Now we must teach them a lesson.”
In 2001, Hasina, who then enjoyed cordial relations with Yunus, often praised his work towards women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation at national and international forums, highlighting his Grameen microfinance model, which, she at the time said, had a “transformative effect” on Bangladesh.
“I am sad that I gave him so many chances. Now, they want to sell the country to others. He has a lot to answer for—once I am back,” she concluded.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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