DHAKA: In a stunning twist, Sheikh
Hasina‘s son Sajeeb Wazed claimed on Sunday that his mother never resigned as Bangladesh PM and reports to the contrary were “completely false and fabricated”, report AKM Moinuddin and agencies.
“…I have just confirmed with her that she did not make any statement before or since leaving Dhaka,” Wazed wrote on X.
Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed’s assertion that his mother never resigned contradicted the claim made a while ago by Mohammad Touhid Hossain, interim government’s foreign policy adviser, that she put in her papers before fleeing the country for India.
Asked at his first press briefing if the new government will ask India to deport Hasina back to Bangladesh, Hossain said he will do so only if the law ministry asked for it. “She resigned and the resignation letter is with the President. This has been confirmed. If the law ministry tells us to seek her return, I will do so,” said Hossain.
According to earlier accounts, Hasina wanted to announce her resignation in a TV address before leaving her official residence, but didn’t get to do so because of army’s insistence that she leave immediately in view of violent protesters closing in on her Ganabhaban residence. She instantly took off in a C-130 to New Delhi. That leaves the question of whether she actually resigned unsettled.
Hossain also said that Bangladesh would have a “balanced” foreign policy, asserting that Dhaka intends to maintain “smooth and positive” relations with all, including India and China. “Our policy is to maintain good relations with all countries while protecting our national interests.”
When asked about the interim government’s approach towards India, Hossain said both countries share strong and deep bonds. “(But) it is important that people feel India is a good friend of Bangladesh… We want that, we want to advance the (Dhaka-Delhi) relation towards that direction,” said Hossain. He said the interim government “would like to see India cooperate with us in this regard” and underscored the need for “addressing public expectations by delivering tangible outcomes from the bilateral ties with India”. Asked about the interim government’s tenure, Hossain only said the administration was committed to a fair and impartial election..