Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Reflects on Narrow Escape During Political Turmoil
Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, recently revealed harrowing details about narrowly escaping death on August 5, 2024, when her Awami League government was overthrown during a massive student-led uprising. Speaking in an audio message shared on her party’s official Facebook page, Hasina expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for sparing her life.
The 77-year-old leader disclosed that she and her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, managed to escape the tumultuous events by just 20-25 minutes. “I feel surviving the killings on August 21, surviving the large bomb in Kotalipara, or surviving on August 5, 2024, there must be a will of Allah, the hand of Allah. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived this time,” she said in Bangla, her voice trembling with emotion.
A Life Marked by Close Calls
Hasina also recounted two previous assassination attempts she narrowly escaped, emphasizing her belief that divine intervention has repeatedly saved her for a higher purpose. One such incident occurred on August 21, 2004, during a grenade attack on an Awami League rally where Hasina was addressing the crowd as the opposition leader. The attack claimed the lives of 24 people and left hundreds injured.
Another attempt on her life took place in 2000 when Hasina, then the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was scheduled to deliver a speech at a rally in Kotalipara, Gopalganj District. Security forces discovered a 76-kilogram time bomb just 50 feet away from the stage, averting a potential disaster.
Reflecting on these experiences, Hasina remarked, “There must be a divine purpose behind my survival. God has a greater plan that I am destined to fulfill.”
The Events of August 5, 2024
The former Prime Minister detailed the chaotic events of August 5, 2024, when security forces warned her that an enraged mob was advancing towards Ganobhaban, the official Prime Minister’s residence, with the intent to harm her. Given the urgency of the situation, Hasina was given 45 minutes to evacuate.
She and her sister Rehana were initially flown to a nearby military airbase. From there, they were transported to India aboard an Air Force plane. Shortly after their departure, the mob stormed Ganobhaban, vandalizing the property and setting it ablaze. In the same wave of violence, her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at 32 Dhanmondi, which had been converted into a museum in his honor, was also set on fire.
Life in Exile
Since fleeing Bangladesh on that fateful day, Sheikh Hasina has been living in India, reflecting on her displacement and the loss of her homeland. “I am suffering; I am without my country, my home. Everything has been burned,” she lamented in the audio message.
Hasina, who led the Awami League government for 16 years before the uprising, accused her political opponents of conspiring to eliminate her. She referred to the persistent threats to her life as evidence of a larger scheme against her, adding that her exile has been fraught with pain and longing for her nation.
Despite the repeated attempts on her life, Sheikh Hasina remains a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics. Her survival of these ordeals is seen by many as a testament to her resilience and determination. The August 5 incident has left an indelible mark on her life, further strengthening her resolve to continue her fight for her people and her party’s legacy.
As Hasina lives in exile, her reflections on the challenges she has faced and the divine purpose she believes guides her offer a glimpse into the trials of a leader who has endured political turmoil, personal loss, and life-threatening adversity. Her story continues to resonate deeply with her supporters and the people of Bangladesh.
