Three leading Indian media outlets, namely The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and The New Indian Express, have recently conducted written interviews with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In an interview featured in The Hindu, Hasina acknowledged that security forces had made errors in handling a past uprising. She clarified that she had not called for a boycott of the upcoming national election, emphasizing the importance of peaceful campaigning to avoid further unrest in Bangladesh.
Hasina expressed her gratitude to India for providing her with a safe haven during the ban on her party, the Awami League, in Bangladesh, stating that the strong ties between the two countries make India a reliable partner. She affirmed her party’s commitment to legally, diplomatically, and peacefully challenging the ban to uphold the people’s right to choose their representatives.
Addressing the accusations regarding her involvement in the 2024 crackdown on protesters, where numerous casualties were reported, Hasina denied directly instructing security forces to use lethal force. However, investigations by The Daily Star revealed a phone recording implicating Hasina in authorizing the use of lethal weapons during the protests.
In her interview with The New Indian Express, Hasina expressed the Awami League’s eagerness to participate in the upcoming national election, emphasizing the need to avoid the cycle of election boycotts and party bans to ensure a legitimate government and promote national healing and reconciliation. Criticisms have been leveled against Hasina for allegedly disenfranchising millions of voters by holding elections without opposition party participation, despite her regime’s ban on Jamaat-e-Islami shortly before her removal in 2024.
Previously, international media outlets including Reuters, AFP, and the UK-based Independent had also conducted written interviews with Hasina on October 29, marking her first engagements with international media since seeking refuge in India.