Sheikh Hasina: Identify Those Who Set Fires and Looted, Every Act Will Be Accounted For

Special Correspondent

Sheikh Hasina, the president of Bangladesh Awami League and daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said in a video speech that she has come back from the brink of death many times by the grace of God.

He said, “I don’t know why Allah, the Almighty, saves me again and again. From the shootings in Chittagong to the grenade attack on August 21st—in every case, Allah has saved me. Maybe I am alive because I am able to talk to you today.”

Sheikh Hasina said, “Identify those who set fire and looted. Every penny will be accounted for. We cannot remain silent anymore. All members of the Awami League should unite.”

He recalled that he was unable to speak during his arrest in 2007.

He said, “I still wanted to talk. This time too, I had to come by force. Today, I am alive and able to get news from you. But I know that many of you are being tortured.”

Sheikh Hasina alleged that the Yunus government seized power through deception and hypocrisy.

In his words, “A letter has been printed in my name that I have no connection with. They are using this charlatanry to seize power and are filing one case after another. More than four hundred cases have been filed against me alone. It is being said that I have killed hundreds of people, yet of those who were killed, 14-15 have come back alive.”

He said, “A newspaper reported that 52 families reported that their sons were not murdered, but died of illness or accidents.”

The Awami League president said, “Yunus Bahini and terrorists killed more than a hundred people by setting fire to a hotel in Jessore. More than 200 people were killed by setting fire to the Gazi Tire Industry. They burned down the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the CRI office in Mirpur, and even the music hall of the Jol Gaan band.”

He added, “Three bodies were seen lying on the road after the fire at No. 32. Numerous Awami League leaders and activists were killed by burning their homes, many bodies could not be identified, and were washed away in the river.”

Sheikh Hasina said that thousands of Awami League leaders and activists have been killed, millions have been injured, and hundreds of thousands of leaders and activists and supporters are in prison.

He said, “There is no space in the prisons, prisoners are being treated inhumanely. Power is being maintained by creating fear. Many have been killed through torture.”

He said, “This illegal Yunus government came to power by pretending. They are making up ICT laws and conducting a fake trial. They have appointed a lawyer for me, but that lawyer has campaigned against me. This is not a trial, it is a farce.”

He alleged, “When I commissioned a judicial inquiry to investigate the murders of six people, Yunus did not allow the commission to work. One advisor even said that the 7.62 bullets used in the murders were not from the police, but from illegal gun owners. Yunus removed him after saying this. This proves that Yunus himself collected these bullets.”

Sheikh Hasina said, “Dr. Yunus joined a job of 6,000 taka in 1990 and today is the owner of thousands of crores of taka. He has fixed deposits of more than 5,000 crore taka. He has transferred money from Grameen Bank, Grameen Telecom, Grameen Foundation, Kalyan Fund—everywhere—in his name. I have all his documents.”

He further said, “Yunus was planning to come to power since 2006. He wanted to form the Kings Party in 2007. Later, he started arson in the country by colluding with BNP-Jamaat-militants.”

Sheikh Hasina mentioned, “From 2013 to 2015, many people—presiding officers, judges, police—have been killed. The attack on the British High Commission at Shahjalal Dargah, the attack on the Holy Artisan—Yunus and his forces, and the BNP-Jamaat are behind all these incidents.”

The Awami League president said, “The country is now under the rule of militants. Human rights are being violated, women and children are being raped, there is no rule of law. Industries are closed, orders are canceled, poverty and extreme poverty have increased. Police and army have also been sent back from the UN peacekeeping mission. The Yunus government has destroyed the country that was a role model for development.”

He also said, “Farmers do not get a fair price for their produce. Social security programs have been stopped, old age allowance, rice cards have all been stopped. Now people are looking for food in garbage dumps instead of eating.”

In his words, “If the Awami League government had been in power, no one would have gone hungry. There was no famine during my tenure, people were safe, women were safe, children had opportunities to study.”

He asks, “Where is my crime? I have developed the country, provided houses to the landless, improved the quality of life of the people. After all this, why is everyone against me?”

She said, “Yunus has looted and burned down my husband’s house, including Sudha Sadan. The property of Ganabhaban has also been looted. The houses of Awami League leaders and activists have been looted, all their gold and jewels have been taken away.”

He said, “We do politics based on the ideals of the Father of the Nation—for farmers, workers, and hardworking people. With the Awami League, people eat in peace and live safely.”

Sheikh Hasina complained, “Today, all the doors of the country are closed to foreign countries. Yunus travels abroad with government money and tells lies. Visas have been canceled in 25 countries. This person has never worked for the welfare of the country.”

He said, “Everyone must stand up and protest. This country has become independent with the blood of three million martyrs. God willing, we will save the country from this misrule.”