Sheikh Hasina’s last open letter to people and students of Bangladesh, concedes defeat but hails victory of people

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 10, 2024

The ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina had expressed her keenness to give one last message to the nation before her hasty departure for India in ignominy on August 5. But this was aborted by army top brass on grounds of security as they gave her a forty five minute ultimatum to leave the country. But from her safe house in Delhi she has prepared and circulated an open letter addressed to the people and students of Bangladesh and a copy each of the same was transmitted to media across the nation. What did the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh and a mass leader seek to convey through her message or inter alia open letter to her people , specially to the student community ? The following is the english transliteration of her open letter verbatim :

“I have tendered my resignation only to avoid seeing the funeral procession of corpses. There were people keen to come up the ladder of power on corpses but I did not allow this to happen. I handed over power but I could stick to my position , had I agreed to hand over the St Martin island and the Bay of Bengal to the USA. I would request you not to be used.

Before I departed I had left a message that those who had morphed my golden children into corpses must be punished. Had I stayed on in our dear motherland, more lives might have been lost , more blood shed and more national wealth and assets destroyed. I withdrew myself, handing down victory to you ; you were my tower of strength but since you did not want me, I left , having tendered my resignation.

To my workers my appeal is that you must not lose your morale , ‘Awami League’ has repeatedly risen up , you have raised it . Please do not lose hope, I will return shortly, ‘Inshallah’. I have suffered defeat but the people of my country have won and these are the people for whom my father and my family sacrificed their lives. I have received information that many of our party workers have been killed and their houses vandalised and set on fire. I am sure ‘Allah’ the Almighty will come to your rescue.

I wish to specially put across to the tender-hearted students that I never called you ‘Rajakars’ , my words were twisted and turned . I call upon you all to see the complete video of that day again. A group of people have served their interests by jeopardizing you. I believe one day you will definitely realize this .

My dear countrymen, please keep well and please keep my golden Bengal well !

Jay Bangla, Jay ‘Bangabandhu;

Sheikh Hasina

Wednesday , 07.08.2024. New Delhi , India