Muhammad Yunus should leave, ask all to fight polls… only way out, India can help: Awami League leader

I was the Home Minister of Bangladesh for 10 years and six months. I have witnessed a lot of developments during this period… Now everything has been reversed 360 degrees. Between August 3-5 last year, approximately 460 police stations were burnt, 5,829 weapons taken away from police stations. Weapons of the SSF (Special Security Force, the agency taking care of VVIP security) were also taken away from Ganabhaban where the Prime Minister lives. I myself was in Dhaka August 5-6 and left my home on August 7.

As Home Minister you were in charge of internal security. Didn’t you see this coming?

When police stations are burning and the police become inactive, the nation can do nothing but just witness and count the dead. It’s the police that protects the civilians. But if the police itself are paralyzed, what will happen? I would say it was a joint coup. A joint coup by Islamic terrorists and the Army.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India after protests toppled her government in August 2024

Evidently, there was a huge intelligence failure. As former Home Minister do you admit this?

I agree there was an intelligence failure, whether intentionally or otherwise. But it was also an Army coup. The Army has a special intelligence unit, the DGFI (Director General Forces Intelligence). They report directly to the Prime Minister. The National Security Intelligence also reports directly to the Prime Minister. Even the police intelligence division reports to the Prime Minister. It is only the summary of the intelligence reports that comes to the Home Minister.

Do you admit that your party made some fundamental mistakes that set off resentment?

I shall not say mistakes but, yes, we took a long time to take decisions to reorganise our party. That is the thing. After two years, new leaders should come up. But we could not select the leaders in due course.

Smoke rising from Ganabhaban, the PM’s residence, which was stormed by public shortly after Hasina’s resignation. (Reuters)

Are you in touch with your party president Sheikh Hasina?

I cannot meet her but I can telephone her, talk about problems and seek directions. I was with her almost until the midnight of August 4. The police chief was there. The Army Chief was there and he assured the Prime Minister that nothing will happen, that we will control the situation. He said your protection is my responsibility. I am witness to all this. I had asked him again: are you taking full responsibility and he said yes.  Then I asked the police chief, who was under my command, that he should freely discuss with the Army and that everything should be normal. But you have seen what happened on August 5.

Awami League workers are in hiding outside; many in Bangladesh are behind bars. How do you address the challenge of keeping up their morale?

The morale of the Awami League workers is very high. They cannot think of a future without Sheikh Hasina. She is the one who changed Bangladesh. And since she came back to power in 2008, she has changed the economy, she has changed the discipline of Bangladesh.

What do you expect India to do? How can India help?

I was a Commander for the freedom fighters so I know what India has done for Bangladesh in 1971. I recognise the fact that India has always been there to help Bangladesh. Now India can help us in a diplomatic way. Our courts are paralysed. The pleaders of the Awami League cannot go to the courts. The judges have all been re-appointed. So the first thing is that diplomatic pressure and a loud voice should be raised so that courts start functioning again. India can help in this.

What’s the challenge in ensuring the safety of your family and the families of other Awami League leaders?

My only son is in jail… many of my relatives are not in a good place. My son is in a jail in Kashimpur where we once used to detain terrorists. Every few days, someone in the present system goes and asks them where I am located. And case after case is being lodged against me.

There are about 290 murder cases against me. This must be a record, maybe even an international record. In 54 cases, the person who was supposed to have been murdered, have come back alive…In these cases, our former Prime Minister and I and several other leaders are all named.

Are you ready to go back and face the rule of law? Is the Awami League ready to fight elections?

I am not scared to go back. But that is only if the rule of law is restored, if the judges can hear cases (freely and fearlessly) and our pleaders appear for us. We believe in elections, we will definitely fight for elections if we can all go there…

With Sheikh Hasina in exile and most of the Awami League senior leadership underground, how difficult will it be for the party to galvanize its forces?

Nothing is impossible. I believe it is possible. And I believe within a very short time, everything will change. I have seen Bangladesh since its inception, I have seen the Bangladeshi people, and it is my firm belief that we will be able to overcome this situation very soon. We don’t know where many of our leaders are…but if start the struggle, we start demonstrating, they will come forward again.

I have crossed 75 years of age, I believe I am now in my bonus life. I am ready to take the risk. I believe the young leaders of the Awami League, too, are ready to face the challenge. It is the time for the young leaders to come forward.

What has been the role of the media in this turmoil?

The media is completely under their control.  The media cannot comment on anything. They cannot raise their voice for everything. They are silent now. I believe if our leader Sheikh Hasina asks everyone to come forward, it will definitely happen.

What’s the message from Sheikh Hasina when you speak to her?

I spoke to her three days ago. Her message is: you ask all the leaders to stay united and that we will definitely overcome the situation in a very short time.

What’s your message to Muhammad Yunus who is head of the interim Government ?

He has no authority to sit on the chair, he is not a leader, not a political figure. A very strange thing has happened to our country. Bangladesh has become a strange example. Yunus should leave his position and ask all political parties, including the Awami League, to fight elections and restore democracy. That is the only way out.