Sheikh Hasina asks to take to the field to protect the country from foreign invaders

Staff Correspondent

Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for protecting the country’s sovereignty, saying that Bangladesh, a fertile land, is standing at the most dangerous juncture in history.

He made the allegations and calls while virtually joining a press conference of ‘Bangladesh Human Rights Watch USA’ organized by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi, India, on Friday.

Sheikh Hasina said, “The country that became independent under the leadership of Bangabandhu is today under attack by extremist mobs. Bangladesh has come under the control of communal groups and foreign occupiers. The entire country is like a huge prison, a valley of death.”

He claimed that a powerful group had carried out meticulously designed attacks to disrupt the country’s progress. In his words, “Our elected government was overthrown by a planned attack by militants on August 5.”

A call to take to the field to protect sovereignty

Making a direct appeal to the people of the country, he said, “The brave and capable people of this country will not give up the fight. Awami League stands by the people of the country. The country that has been snatched from you must be protected from foreigners.”

Making strong allegations against the interim government’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, Sheikh Hasina said, “Yunus is a person who evaded government taxes. Under his leadership, an attempt is being made to hand over the country to foreigners. There is no order in the country now – looting, terrorism, violence against women, murder are on the rise.”

He alleged, “Yunus and his forces are handing over the country’s resources to foreigners. They have no responsibility towards the country.”

‘Free elections are not possible under Yunus’

Sheikh Hasina alleged that political freedoms are being eroded under the interim government. She said, “The elections are being held without the country’s largest political party, the Awami League. It is not possible to have a free and fair election under this usurping Yunus government.”

Former Awami League Organizing Secretary and former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, former Foreign Minister Abdul Monem, State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat and former MP Habibe Millat Munna were also present at the press conference.