In a powerful and somber New Year's address, former Bangladesh Prime Minister and current opposition leader Sheikh Hasina issued a stark warning to her nation. The Awami League president framed the past year as one of deep suffering for the Bangladeshi people and called for urgent unity to prevent the country from descending further into what she termed a "journey into darkness."
A Dire Warning and a Call to Action
Sheikh Hasina, who leads the opposition from the position of the Leader of the House in Parliament, did not mince words in her assessment. She declared that the year 2023 was marked by extreme misery for the citizens of Bangladesh. The central theme of her message was a clarion call for collective resistance. She urged all democratic and patriotic forces within the country to unite with the common people to "save the country" from its current trajectory.
Her criticism was squarely aimed at the current administration. Hasina accused the government of unleashing a reign of terror, engaging in widespread looting of public resources, and orchestrating a farcical election. She expressed grave concern over what she sees as the systematic destruction of the nation's democratic institutions and social harmony.
The Context of Political Turmoil
The New Year's message comes against a backdrop of intense political friction in Bangladesh. The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with other allied groups, boycotted the recent general elections. Their boycott was a protest against the ruling Awami League government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, demanding that the polls be conducted under a neutral caretaker administration—a condition the government rejected.
This boycott and the preceding political campaigns were met with a significant government crackdown. Authorities arrested tens of thousands of opposition activists and supporters in the months leading up to the January 7 election. The BNP has alleged severe repression, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, charges the government denies.
In her statement, the former Prime Minister highlighted this crackdown, stating that the government's actions have pushed the country's political landscape to a dangerous brink. Her plea for unity is seen as an attempt to consolidate opposition to the current regime and present a formidable front.
The Path Forward: Unity Against Authoritarianism
Sheikh Hasina's message concluded with a forward-looking, albeit urgent, appeal. She expressed her hope that the new year would inspire a renewed spirit of resistance among the populace. The goal, as she outlined, is to establish a government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The essence of her appeal lies in a collective struggle to restore democratic governance and the rule of law. She positioned this struggle as not merely political but as a fundamental fight for the soul and future of Bangladesh. By invoking the imagery of light and darkness, she sought to draw a clear moral and political battle line for the year ahead.
This public statement is a significant political maneuver, setting the tone for the opposition's strategy in 2024. It moves beyond mere criticism to articulate a unifying narrative aimed at mobilizing a broad coalition against the ruling party. The call to "save the country" is designed to resonate with public grievances over economic hardship, perceived autocracy, and political violence, making it a central theme for the opposition's campaign in the coming months.
