When the spirit of 1971 is at Stake, Leadership Must Return

To confront the threats to national, regional, and global peace, stability, and security, and to prevent the establishment of an Islamic terrorist state in Bangladesh, there is no alternative to the return of Sheikh Hasina to the country. Over the past eight months, Bangladesh has witnessed the careful orchestration of a veiled Islamic Jihadi coup. Under this scheme, the elected Prime Minister,Sheikh Hasina, has been compelled to leave the country to preserve her life. The unconstitutional regime, led by Dr. Yunus, has begun to reshape the political character of Bangladesh, systematically undermining its liberal democratic and

secular foundations in an attempt to establish an Islamic Jihadi state. Since assuming power, the government under Dr. Yunus has arrested numerous political leaders and activists committed to liberal democracy and secularism.Their homes, party offices, businesses, and factories have been subjected to looting, arson, and vandalism. Many leaders and activists have been killed, while thousands more languish in prison. A state of fear and terror has engulfed the country, forcing opponents of Dr. Yunus’s government into hiding or exile to safeguard their lives.

This administration, in pursuit of its jihadi political objectives, has targeted dissenting political leaders, framing them in fabricated cases while disregarding due legal procedures and preliminary investigations. Through farcical trials in controlled courts, politically motivated verdicts are being issued. The regime is rapidly advancing toward the establishment of a fundamentalist Islamic jihadi state. Consequently, Bangladesh -already grappling with severe political and economic crises -risks descending into a failed state and potentially emerging as a regional base for extremist forces, posing a major threat to regional and global peace and security.

Amid this grave national crisis, responsible and people-oriented political forces are suffering from a serious leadership vacuum. Sheikh Hasina remains outside the country, while leaders of her party are either in hiding or in exile. Other respected liberal, secular, and progressive figures – such as Jasod President Hasanul Haq Inu and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon - have been imprisoned. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) too faces a leadership crisis: its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia remains abroad for medical treatment, and its Acting Chairperson Tareque Rahman has long resided overseas. The party has been unable to provide any certainty regarding their return, amidst allegations that the government is obstructing them. The BNP’s demand for a free and fair election under a neutral caretaker government is perceived by Dr. Yunus’s government as a dual political challenge alongside the Awami League, leading to ongoing efforts to prolong its unelected rule while discrediting political parties and leaders.

In this context, there is no alternative but for Sheikh Hasina - a responsible, people-oriented, and courageous leader - to return and take up the mantle of leadership. The majority of the people of Bangladesh awaits her swift return. Her return would have multiple immediate and long-term implications:

1. Demonstrating Courage and Legitimacy: Sheikh Hasina’s return will confirm that her departure was a temporary, strategic decision to preserve her life from the threat of fundamentalist terrorists. The events of the past eight months have exposed the so-called organizers of the July-August coup as lacking popular support or legitimacy.

2. Countering Propaganda: Right-wing forces propagating falsehoods regarding

Sheikh Hasina’s absence will be discredited, undermining their attempts to manipulate public perception.

3. Inspiring Political Resistance: Her return would energize thousands of political leaders, activists, and the general public who are disillusioned by Dr. Yunus’s government, fostering widespread, organized resistance.

4. Challenging Judicial Injustice: By facing the politically motivated trials and confronting the so-called kangaroo courts, Sheikh Hasina will expose the illegitimacy of the regime’s fabricated judicial processes.

5. Reinvigorating the Spirit of the Liberation War: Her leadership will reawaken the spirit of the Liberation War among people, government officials, and institutions committed to secular and democratic values.

6. Restoring Political Balance and Sovereignty: Sheikh Hasina’s presence will reaffirm her and her party’s centrality in both national and international political and diplomatic arenas, making any arrangement excluding her politically untenable. Her presence - whether in freedom or in custody – will assert her leadership over the country.

It is worth recalling that during the crisis of 2007–2008, amidst political uncertainty, Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh, defying mortal risks, and successfully led the country away from military rule, restoring constitutional and liberal democratic governance. Under her bold leadership, Bangladesh effectively eradicated terrorist and militant strongholds, thwarted attempts to turn the country into a hub for international terrorist networks, and established itself as a reliable partner for regional and global peace and security.

Therefore, to restore liberal democratic and secular political processes in Bangladesh, to reestablish peace and national development, to counter regional and global security threats, and to safeguard the dignity and honor of Bangladesh, there is no alternative to the historic and necessary return of Sheikh Hasina – the elected Prime Minister, the President of the largest political party, and the daughter of the Father of the Nation. It must be emphasized that Hasina's second return carries far greater significance than merely reclaiming office. In this critical moment, the nation looks to her leadership to defend Bangladesh’s secular-liberal foundation and to lead the country decisively along its rightful path of progress.

Writer: Coordinator, JASOD (Socialist Party, Bangladesh), All European Committee