Disturbing information has emerged regarding a plot to kill Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana soon after her removal from office a year back, by forming that a plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana soon after she was o. In an audio message shared on the Bangladesh Awami League’s Facebook page, Hasina recounted how she narrowly escaped death by fleeing just minutes before the planned attack.
Rehana and I both survived—we managed to get out of death by only 20-25 minutes,” the message said on Friday. She added that the incident occurred on August 5, 2024, when she and her sister left Dhaka and sought refuge in India following her resignation as Prime Minister.
Protests Leading to Hasina’s Removal
Hasina’s resignation from the office occurred during the peak of surge of student-led protests that evolved into violent confrontations which led to more than 600 fatalities. This uprisings made Hasina, who had ruled the country for 15 years, resign. Nobel Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus was then given the position of the interim government chief.
Remembering the turmoil of the time, Hasina spoke of the risks she has been under during her political life. “I feel it is the will of Allah that I survived the killings on August 21, the bombing in Kotalipara, and the events of August 5, 2024. Otherwise, I would not have been able to survive, she said.
Surviving Multiple Assassination Attempts
Hasina’s career has been shadowed by multiple attempts against her safety. She thought back to the grenade attack on 21 August 2004 that injured her and 24 others and to the Kotalipara attack in July 2000 where she was due to attend a venue that contained explosives that were found at the time.
“You later saw how they planned to kill me, Hasina said, referencing the assassination plot she narrowly avoided in 2024. Inshallah, I am still alive by the mercy of Allah, and Allah would have this old soul to continue its mission. I am suffering, I am without my country, without my home—everything has been burned.
Exile in India and Diplomatic Tensions
Since fleeing Bangladesh, Hasina has been residing in Delhi with her sister. However, her presence in India has sparked diplomatic tensions. The interim government in Bangladesh has submitted officially (on behalf of the government of Bangladesh) to India the request for the extradition of Hasina in the form of a diplomatic note to the Ministry of External Affairs.
India’s foreign ministry confirmed the receipt of the note but made no further statement. The situation is still very fragile, since the future of Hasina’s political career is now uncertain, and she is still out of the country.
Legal Challenges Against Hasina
The Bangladesh caretaker government has increased pressure on the former leader by issuing two arrest warrants from the International Crimes Tribunal for Bangladesh. According to these warrants, Hasina is charged with participating in enforced disappearances during her long period as Prime Minister.
While Hasina continues to maintain her innocence, these legal actions have added another layer of complexity to her political exile.
A Polarizing Figure
Hasina’s legacy remains divisive in Bangladesh. Supporters view her as a champion of economic growth and stability, while critics accuse her of authoritarianism and human rights violations. Her ejection from the office and the consequent turmoil illustrate the stark political cleavages within the country.
What Lies Ahead?
While the interim government in Bangladesh is strengthening its authority and taking legal action against Hasina, her destiny is still blurry. The extradition request adds a new layer in India-Bangladesh relations and puts a strain on the diplomatic relationship between the two neighboring countries.
For the present, Sheikh Hasina is still in Delhi, mulling over her survival against all expectations. I want to believe, it is Allah’s will that I am well alive, she uttered looking to her future, expecting that her survival has another intention. It is still to be determined whether the setting of exile will achieve this purpose, or whether it will be achieved upon return to Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Sheikh Hasina’s revelations of an assassination plot highlight the perils of political leadership in Bangladesh’s volatile landscape. With each passing moment of her narrative, it is a timely reminder of the cost and risk borne by the people who govern.
