Brigadier General (retd) said that if Sheikh Hasina had been in Ganabhaban on the day of the government fall in the students' uprising, 'people would have torn her apart'. M Sakhawat Hossain. He recently made this comment in front of the journalists after participating in a conference at the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.
Bangladesh's M Sakhawat Hossain's comments at the conference titled 'Bangladesh: Democracy and Human Rights Crisis' sparked a wide discussion. He said, if Sheikh Hasina had not left the country, the violence would have been worse, which would not have been good for the country.
M Sakhawat Hossain said, 'If she (Sheikh Hasina) had lived, then people would have torn her apart (she would have been torn apart by people). This is the fact – I told you. Just as people were breaking the barricade… the police surrendered. As people were coming towards Ganabhaban, if he stayed in Ganabhaban…. But the army chief kept saying, you have to take a decision within 45 minutes. The walls of the Ganobhaban will be broken. From my experience, then people would tear him apart and that would not be good for the country.'
This comment of Sakhawat Hossain has given birth to a wide discussion in the political arena of Bangladesh. Ousted Sheikh Hasina is currently in India and preparations for her extradition are underway.
Dr. In his speech, Sakhawat referred to the suppression of opposition, human rights violations and mass discontent against the Awami League government during Sheikh Hasina's long rule. According to him, Hasina's exodus saved the country from further violence.
An organization called Voice for Bangladesh organized this conference. It was presided over by Alexander Charles Carlyle, a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. British Minister Paul Scully and international human rights activists also took part in the discussions moderated by Ataullah Farooq, the founder of the organization.
Former British Minister Paul Scully and Lord Hossain expressed concern about the human rights situation in Bangladesh. They said that the active role of the international community is essential to improve the democratic and human rights situation of Bangladesh.
Conference president Lord Alexander Charles Carlyle QC said the UK would support the interim government to reform and re-establish democratic processes. International cooperation is necessary for the development and protection of democracy in Bangladesh.
