‘Allah gave life, he will take it’: Inside Sheikh Hasina’s message to supporters ahead of verdict

Hasina says she is unfazed by tribunal verdict, calls accusations part of Yunus’ plan to ‘finish’ Awami League

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dismissed the charges against her as “false” ahead of the International Crimes Tribunal verdict, saying she is unfazed by the outcome. In an audio message to supporters, the Awami League chief accused Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus of attempting to dismantle her party.

“It is not so easy, Awami League has come up from the grassroots, not from the pocket of some usurper of power,” the 78-year-old said.

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Hasina alleged that the interim administration is trying to “finish off” the Awami League and praised her supporters for responding to protest calls. “They have given us faith. People will show this corrupt, militant, and murderer Yunus and his aides how Bangladesh can turn around; the people will do justice,” she said.

She also claimed, “criminals have become heroes of July" under the current interim administration.

Reassuring party workers, she added, “I am alive, I will stay alive, I will work for the welfare of people again, and I will do justice on Bangladesh's soil.” Accusing Yunus of unlawfully removing an elected government, she said the constitution makes such actions punishable. “Yunus has done exactly that through his meticulous designs,” she said.

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Hasina fled to Delhi last year after nationwide protests against her government turned violent. She resigned before leaving, and the Yunus-led administration later accused her of crimes against humanity. Although summoned to appear before the ICT in Dhaka, she has not returned.

Addressing allegations of human rights abuses, she said, “I gave refuge to 10 lakh Rohingya and they accuse me of violating human rights?” She criticised the interim government’s decision to grant amnesty to individuals accused of killing police personnel, Awami League workers, lawyers, journalists, and cultural figures.

“But by extending amnesty to such people, he has effectively brought the blame on himself,” she said, calling it a denial of justice for victims’ families.

She also condemned the vandalism at Gonobhaban after her ouster, saying, “Gonobhaban is not my property; it is government property. They are saying it is a revolution. Hooligans and terrorists cannot bring a revolution.” She insisted that legal proceedings would not silence her. “I am with the people… everything will be accounted for. And I believe I will be able to give it back, inshallah,” she said.

Warning of worsening conditions under the interim government, Hasina said unemployment was rising and industries were shutting down. “Today, the number of unemployed people is increasing. There is no income. There is no production in the country. Industries are closing down. Banks are being looted,” she said, urging supporters to “free Bangladesh from this situation."