The chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Mohammad Tajul Islam, revealed a tense standoff between the military and the defiant leader. According to Islam, military officials last year demanded Hasina step down to avert further bloodshed, a plea she vehemently refused until ultimately swayed by her son.
Tajul Islam’s revelations were made during a recent hearing, as reported by Bangladeshi media outlet Prothom Alo. Islam, who has officially filed charges in a human rights case related to the July mass uprising in Bangladesh’s Chankharpul area, offered a detailed account of the events leading to Hasina’s departure on August 4 and 5 last year.
Tense Final Hours at Ganabhaban
Islam painted a picture of a “tense and volatile” meeting at Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s official residence, on the night of August 4. The gathering included key ministers, ruling party figures, and top military officials, marked by heated discussions as the nation grappled with widespread protests.
Between midnight and 12:15 AM on August 5, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Hasina’s then defence adviser, reportedly hinted at her resignation. This suggestion, according to Tajul Islam, infuriated Hasina, who, refusing to relinquish power, instead ordered the army chief to confront the protestors.
In a shocking turn, Tarique Ahmed Siddique allegedly suggested firing on the protestors to quell the rebellion, even hinting at aerial attacks from helicopters. This drastic proposal was met with disapproval from the Air Force chief, who reportedly told Hasina, “He (Tarique) has sunk you, and he will sink you again.”
Desperate Plea and a Son’s Influence
The following morning, in another critical meeting, IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun informed Hasina that the situation had escalated, and security forces lacked sufficient ammunition to confront the surging protestors. It was then that top military officers reiterated their demand for her resignation.
Hasina’s response was reportedly defiant: “Then shoot me and bury me here, in Ganabhaban.”
Undeterred, the officers reportedly moved her to another room, emphasising the impending arrival of protestors marching towards Dhaka and Ganabhaban from all directions. This desperate plea was echoed by Hasina’s sister, Sheikh Rehana, who, according to Tajul Islam, even clung to her sister’s feet, urging her to step down, but to no avail.
The stalemate was finally broken when Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, was contacted. It was his intervention, Tajul Islam revealed, that ultimately convinced his mother to relinquish power.
The revelations by the chief prosecutor shed significant light on the dramatic events that led to Sheikh Hasina’s unexpected departure from office, highlighting the intense pressure from the military and the crucial role played by her son in the final moments.