Awami League President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that her top priority upon returning to the country would be the restoration of constitutional governance and the rule of law, vowing to immediately release over 152,000 political prisoners detained on fabricated charges, revive the stalled economy, protect religious minorities, and rebuild democratic institutions shattered under the current interim administration.
In an exclusive interview with Zee 24 Ghanta (a sister publication of WION), published on January 26, Sheikh Hasina—currently in exile in India since her ouster in August 2024—criticised the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for enabling lawlessness, mob violence, and impunity for extremist forces. She described Bangladesh as enduring months of chaos, with the economy stalled, youth and rural employment opportunities vanished, and secular foundations under attack.
Top Priorities
Sheikh Hasina emphasised that Bangladesh requires a democratically mandated government to heal divisions and restore progress. “My priority will be the restoration of constitutional governance and the rule of law,” she stated. She highlighted the arbitrary detention and torture of supporters, the persecution of minorities, and the empowerment of groups linked to proscribed terrorist organisations.
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She accused the Yunus administration of dismantling institutions, allowing mob terrorism, and granting impunity to those committing atrocities. Sheikh Hasina asserted that the Awami League stands ready to serve—whether in government or as opposition—but insisted meaningful participation is impossible under a ban and amid ongoing persecution.
Restructuring Awami League
Addressing internal party renewal, Sheikh Hasina rejected claims that the Awami League belongs to one family, insisting it represents millions who uphold the values of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. She acknowledged the need for fresh leadership to connect with youth in urban and rural areas, embrace the digital age, and honour founding principles.
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However, she argued that genuine restructuring cannot occur while the party remains banned, thousands of supporters face detention and torture, and membership is criminalised. She noted that millions still trust the Awami League and would vote for it if allowed, crediting past achievements to collective party workers and the people.
Life In Exile
Sheikh Hasina described the past year as painful, watching economic gains, religious harmony, and institutional stability systematically undone. She expressed anguish over the suffering of supporters, persecution, and attacks on minorities and journalists.
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Despite this, she praised the courage of Awami League workers enduring harassment, imprisonment, and torture while refusing to abandon their beliefs. Staying connected with the party and people has provided strength, she said, portraying the Awami League as embodying the spirit of 1971—a secular, democratic, prosperous Bangladesh that cannot be extinguished by repression.
Sheikh Hasina expressed patience, asserting that regimes built on fear and exclusion do not last, and that Bangladesh ultimately belongs to its people.
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