Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, has accused the United States of playing a role in her removal from power due to her refusal to hand over Saint Martin’s Island, which would have allowed the US to "exert influence over the Bay of Bengal." She also cautioned Bangladeshis against being manipulated by radicals.
In a message shared by her close associates and made available to Economic Times, Hasina said, "I resigned to avoid witnessing a procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the bodies of students, but I did not allow it. I could have stayed in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin’s Island and allowed America to control the Bay of Bengal. I plead with the people of my country, 'Please do not be manipulated by radicals.'"
She added, "If I had stayed in the country, more lives would have been lost, more resources destroyed. I made the extremely difficult decision to leave. I became your leader because you chose me; you were my strength."
Expressing her sorrow, Hasina said, "My heart cries when I hear that many leaders have been killed, workers harassed, and their homes vandalised and burned. With the grace of Almighty Allah, I will return soon. The Awami League has risen again and again. I will always pray for the future of Bangladesh, the nation my great father fought for—the country for which my father and family gave their lives."
Addressing the quota movement and student protests, Hasina clarified, "I never called you Razakars. My words were distorted to incite you. I urge you to watch the full video from that day. Conspirators took advantage of your innocence and used you to destabilise the nation."
Hasina fled Bangladesh on Monday, seeking refuge in India.
Prior to the quota movement, in April, Hasina had told parliament that America was pursuing a regime change strategy in her country. "They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government without democratic legitimacy."
Sources claim that despite the apparent job quota protests, rioters were manipulated by foreign elements orchestrating a regime change in Bangladesh.
Leaders close to Hasina blamed the US for the regime change and alleged that a senior US diplomat who visited Dhaka in May played a role. They further claimed that the diplomat pressured Hasina to take measures against China.
The American ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, who completed his term in July, was alleged to have favored the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), according to one of the leaders. The US government had consistently criticised Dhaka over human rights issues and election processes.
On December 15, 2023, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned at a press briefing that if Sheikh Hasina returned to power in the next election, the US would use all its powers to overthrow her government, potentially creating a situation similar to the 'Arab Spring' to bring about a chaotic regime change. It is noteworthy that the 'Arab Spring' a decade ago in the Middle East was initially led by university, college, and school students.