Hasina Defends Press Meet, Says Not Powerful Enough to Harm India Ties

Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has pushed back against criticism that her recent press conference has strained India-Bangladesh relations, saying she is not powerful enough to cause such damage. In an interview, she defended her right to speak freely, asserting that her intention was to tell the truth, not to harm bilateral ties.

Hasina, who has been sentenced to death in Bangladesh on murder charges, also recounted the circumstances of her departure from Dhaka on August 5, 2024. She stated that she did not leave by choice and was unaware she was being taken to India until she was already in a helicopter. She claimed her security personnel and party leaders urged her to leave after the situation around her residence deteriorated rapidly.

She expressed gratitude to India for receiving her on short notice and providing security, but said it was difficult to accept being taken out of her country. Hasina said she remains determined to return to Bangladesh, noting that she has previously returned from exile despite opposition. She declined to provide specific details about the timing or route of her return.

Addressing the current situation in Bangladesh, Hasina alleged that freedom of speech has been destroyed since August 2024, citing attacks on media houses and the jailing of journalists. She also defended her government's ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, calling its members war criminals. Hasina said her demands are simple: the lifting of the ban on her Awami League party and the release of political detainees.