Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would not be making a political comeback, confirmed Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of the former PM and a former official advisor. Joy stated that Hasina, who resigned and fled to London earlier in the day, did so for her safety, following strong family advice.
In an interview with BBC World Service's Newshour, Joy revealed that Hasina had been contemplating resignation since August 4 and decided to leave the country due to escalating unrest. He expressed her disappointment, noting that despite her extensive efforts to transform Bangladesh from a failing state into a rising tiger of Asia, a minority's opposition led to her downfall.
"She has turned Bangladesh around. When she took over power, it was considered a failing state. It was a poor country. Until today it was considered one of the rising tigers of Asia. She's very disappointed," he stated, expressing anguish and disappointment.
The protests against Hasina's government, which have been marked by severe violence, resulted in the deaths of over 300 people within a fortnight. The unrest intensified following clashes between protesters demanding her resignation and Awami League supporters. Joy defended the government's response to the violence, citing instances where police officers were killed by mobs, and stated that the police had to act in self-defense.
"You’ve had policemen beaten to death – 13 just yesterday. So what do you expect the police to do when mobs are beating people to death?", he questioned.
Hasina’s 15-year tenure as Prime Minister ended dramatically on August 5, when she fled amid severe unrest. The military announced an interim government following violent clashes on August 4 that resulted in nearly 100 deaths. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, declared Hasina’s resignation and the establishment of a caretaker government.
The unrest, initially sparked by student protests over job quotas, has resulted in at least 366 deaths. The military’s response, although restrained compared to past crackdowns, has been marked by violence against police officers.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
