“We escaped death by 20-25 minutes,” says Sheikh Hasina

Former Bangladesh PM claims repeated attempts on her life, credits survival to divine intervention

Dhaka [Bangladesh], January 18: Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged multiple assassination plots against her and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, following her ousting from power. Hasina, in an emotional audio message posted on the Bangladesh Awami League’s official Facebook page, claimed she narrowly escaped death several times due to what she described as divine intervention.

“Rehana and I survived—just 20-25 minutes apart, we escaped death,” Hasina said in the Friday message, referencing the dangers she faced.

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Context of Hasina’s Claims

In August last year, Hasina, 76, was removed from office after a student-led movement culminated in violent protests, leaving over 600 dead. The protests resulted in her fleeing to India, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.

Hasina alleged that her life was targeted multiple times, citing historical assassination attempts, including the infamous 2004 Dhaka grenade attack and the 2000 Kotalipara bomb plot.

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Key Assassination Attempts Highlighted

1. 2004 Dhaka Grenade Attack:
   During an anti-terrorism rally on August 21, 2004, 24 people were killed, and over 500 were injured when grenades exploded at Bangabandhu Avenue. Hasina, then opposition leader, had just finished addressing a crowd of 20,000. Though she sustained injuries, she survived the attack.
2. Kotalipara Bomb Plot (2000):
   Hasina also referenced the recovery of a 76kg bomb on July 21, 2000, in Kotalipara, where she was scheduled to address a rally. Another 40kg bomb was found two days later at Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Ideal College, marking another near-miss for the Awami League leader.

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Emotional Recollection

“Allah must have had a will for me to survive these attempts,” Hasina stated tearfully. She added, “I am without my country, without my home—everything has been burned. Yet, I remain because Allah wants me to fulfill a purpose.”

Hasina lamented the losses faced by her party and her supporters during these tumultuous years but expressed gratitude for her survival amidst grave threats.

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Tags: Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Politics, Assassination Plots, Awami League, Grenade Attack, Kotalipara Bomb Plot, Bangladesh Protest 2024, Sheikh Rehana

#Tags: #SheikhHasina #BangladeshPolitics #AssassinationPlots #AwamiLeague #GrenadeAttack #KotaliparaBombPlot #BangladeshProtests