New Delhi: Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina penned an open letter to her countrymen on completing a year in exile on Tuesday. She was forced to flee Dhaka on August 5, 2024, after violent mobs headed towards her official residence.
In her letter, addressed to the “hard-working and patriotic” people of Bangladesh, Hasina said the country witnessed interruption of democracy as an unelected regime seized power.
Hasina, who was prime minister for 15 years and is now facing a jail term in Bangladesh, criticised the interim government under Mohammad Yunus. Stating that ‘no regime can suppress’ the will of the nation, she called for her countrymen to stand for “justice, for economic opportunity, for education, for peace, and for a nation where no one lives in fear.”
This is what the letter says:
“This is an open letter to the honest, hard-working and patriotic people of Bangladesh.
One year ago today, our nation witnessed the violent interruption of our hard-fought democracy, as an unelected regime seized power through unconstitutional means. It was a dark moment in our history, an affront to the will of the people, and a betrayal of the trust between citizens and the state.
While they may have taken power, they will never take away our spirit, our resolve, or our destiny. I can assure you of that. Also Read | Bangladesh protest: As Hasina flees, protesters loot raw fish, chicken, duck and Dior suitcase from Ganabhaban
In the face of injustice and repression, I have witnessed extraordinary courage from you, the people of Bangladesh. You have refused to be silenced. You have stood up for democracy, for freedom, and for the future we all deserve. I am constantly inspired by your courage and your love for our country.
Though this past year has tested us, it has also revealed the unbreakable bond between our people and the values of democracy. We have endured hardship, but in that hardship, we have found unity and purpose.
Let us never forget that power belongs to the people, and no regime can suppress the will of a nation forever. Our struggle is not over, but our cause is just.
We must continue to stand for justice, for economic opportunity, for education, for peace, and for a nation where no one lives in fear. Together, we will rebuild what has been broken. Together, we will reclaim the institutions that were taken from us. And together, we will write a new chapter, one defined not by oppression, but by hope, progress, and freedom.
Let this anniversary not be a day of retrospection, but a rallying cry for a brighter tomorrow. Bangladesh has overcome adversity before, and we will rise again, stronger, more united, and more determined to build a democracy that truly serves its people.
I believe in you. I believe in Bangladesh. And I believe that our best days are yet to come.”
The interim government in Bangladesh has indicated that general elections will be held there around June 2026. However, Hasina is unlikely to participate as her party, the Awami League, has been deregistered and barred from standing for elections.
