Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently said that she was offered an easy path to re-election in the January 7 polls on the condition that she permitted a foreign country to construct an airbase within Bangladeshi territory.
"I've clearly said that I'm the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The 76-year-old further said she would only come to power if the people want her as the prime minister.
"Like East Timor, they will cut out a Christian country, taking parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar with a base in the Bay of Bengal,” said Hasina.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated on August 15, 1975, along with most of his family members except for his two daughters, including Sheikh Hasina who was staying abroad at that time.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently said that she was offered an easy path to re-election in the January 7 polls on the condition that she permitted a foreign country to construct an airbase within Bangladeshi territory.
The 76-year-old PM is ruling Bangladesh since 2009 and has secured a fifth term in the one-sided election in January 2024, which was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
‘The Daily Star Bangladesh’ quoted Hasina as saying, "If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem.”
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The PM, however, did not disclose the name of the country that had made the offer to her but emphasised that the "offer came from a White man”.
"The offer came from a White man," said Hasina and added, "It may look like that it is aimed at only one country, but it is not. I am quite sure where else they plan to go."
Hasina further stated that this is the reason why her Awami League party-led government is always in trouble.
When asked about her response to the "White man" who made the offer, the Prime Minister stated that she replied in the same manner as she did back in 2001 when the US proposed selling the country's gas to India.
"I've clearly said that I'm the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. . . we won our Liberation War, I don't want power by leasing out part of the country or handing it over to some other country," she said.
The 76-year-old further said she would only come to power if the people want her as the prime minister.
While talking about trade and commerce, she said that trade and commerce have been going on in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean since ancient times.
"Many have their eyes on this place. There are no disputes or conflicts here, and I won't allow that to change.
"This is also considered one of my crimes," the premier said.
"Like East Timor, they will cut out a Christian country, taking parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar with a base in the Bay of Bengal,” said Hasina.
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She further said that conspiracies were being hatched to bring down her government and that she might have to pay the same cost as her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paid, The Daily Star reported.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated on August 15, 1975, along with most of his family members except for his two daughters, including Sheikh Hasina who was staying abroad at that time.
The Bangladesh leader also said they would not purchase anything from countries that imposed sanctions on it.
