By Sanjoy Kumar Barua
In a leaked audio conversation, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina asserted that she had not officially resigned from her position, despite the reports following her departure from Bangladesh on August 5.
The conversation, which was with a former Chhatra League leader from Noakhali’s Sonaimuri, has reignited speculation regarding the nature of her departure and the current political situation in the country.
The authenticity and timing of the leaked conversations remain unverified.
Hasina’s departure occurred during a mass student uprising, leading to widespread reports that she had resigned as prime minister.
However, Hasina firmly disputed this narrative in the leaked conversation. She clarified that while she had left Ganabhaban due to security concerns, she had not formally resigned according to the constitutional procedures set forth in Article 57 of the Constitution.
“I have not resigned,” Hasina said during the call.
She explained that the circumstances leading to her departure were forced, as she did not want to risk lives by staying in power amid escalating violence.
“Dr Yunus moved the date from August 6 to August 5, bringing people out in such a way that… I saw that if an open fire occurred for my security, many would die. I do not want to stay in power over a pile of dead bodies,” she added.
Mentioning Yunus she said, “His corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, misappropriation of money and bribery of labour leaders—he has created a situation. And some countries support him. He used it.”
“When the situation became such that my security people were forced… then I had to move out of the Ganabhaban. As a result, I did not go to Bangabhaban and submit my resignation letter to His Excellency the President. So I did not resign. I am still the constitutionally elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh”, she said.
“Their intention was to kill me”, She added.
Hasina also addressed widely circulated rumors and photos showing her signing a document, allegedly her resignation.
She dismissed this, claiming the signature was in a visitor’s book, not an official resignation letter.
“They showed a false picture of me signing. That was my signature in a visiting book. A prime minister does not resign by signing in such a book,” she said, refuting the veracity of the claims.
The conversation also sheds light on the unrest that led to her departure, with Hasina alleging that armed individuals had infiltrated the protest movement, resulting in violent confrontations.
She detailed how many Awami League leaders, activists, law enforcement officers, and members of Hindu families were targeted and killed, with some individuals disappearing during the uprising.
Hasina raised concerns that these actions were not solely the result of police violence but involved other unidentified armed groups.
“They were using bullets… ordinary people had these bullets,” she remarked, highlighting her belief that agents within the movement were responsible for much of the bloodshed.
Earlier, it was reported that the Awami League president went to India after resigning from the post of Prime Minister on August 5.
On the same day, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Sheikh Hasina had resigned before leaving the country.
Later, the foreign advisor of the interim government Touhid Hossain also said the same thing.
However, no notice of resignation has been made public yet.
Source: The Chittagong Hill TractsÂ
