The Awami League’s senior leaders and ministers are struggling to come to terms with Sheikh Hasina’s departure from the country, which she undertook with only her family members amid widespread public discontent. They question why, if she was intent on leaving, she chose to confront protesters with party leaders and activists at the last moment.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation from the prime ministerial position and her subsequent departure, she communicated by phone with six cabinet members and five central committee leaders. They disclosed that they had no indication she would leave the country on Monday and had not been given any hint of her resignation beforehand.
The announcement of Sheikh Hasina’s departure around noon yesterday left many cabinet members and party activists in a state of confusion. Subsequently, most of them sought safe havens. Due to the escalating situation, a few individuals left the country on Sunday night and Monday morning, while others sent their family members abroad.
Reports indicate that many ministers and central leaders, including Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Textile and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Foreign Minister Hassan Mahmood, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Information and Broadcasting State Minister Mohammad A Arafat, and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Rahman, remained in the country. Some remained reachable by phone into the evening, although many, including Obaidul Quader and Jahangir Kabir, had their phones turned off by the afternoon. It is speculated that they either went into hiding or were attempting to travel abroad.
The Speaker of the National Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, was reported to have stayed in her parliamentary area until noon yesterday, but her current whereabouts are unknown. Her phone has been unreachable since the afternoon.
Ministers and central leaders have expressed their dismay and frustration over Sheikh Hasina’s departure, which they perceive as abandoning them in the face of public outrage. They attribute their current plight to her repeated misjudgments and obstinacy. While she ensured the safety of her own family, others have been left in precarious situations.
Awami League leaders noted that Sheikh Hasina’s sister, Sheikh Rehana, arrived in the country on Sunday morning and left with her the following day. Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed, was already in India, while her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, was abroad. Sheikh Rehana’s son, Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, had already departed from Bangladesh.
Two cabinet members, speaking anonymously, revealed that several ministers and leaders advised Sheikh Hasina on Sunday night to resign and transfer power to the military, but she dismissed this option as legally unfeasible.
Another cabinet member, also speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted they did not foresee such a scenario. However, due to the deteriorating situation, they sent their spouse and children abroad temporarily on Sunday, intending to bring them back once the situation improved. However, the circumstances have dramatically shifted.
A senior minister commented that since the onset of the quota reform movement, Sheikh Hasina has made a series of poor decisions as the head of government. Despite efforts to explain the situation, they were unsuccessful. Now, the consequences have unfolded as they have.
Most Awami League members of parliament are reportedly in Dhaka. Since the start of the quota reform movement, they have rarely visited their constituencies. They have been searching for safe shelters since yesterday afternoon.
Five Awami League MPs, speaking anonymously, expressed their frustration, stating that had Sheikh Hasina remained in the country and been imprisoned, the party’s leaders and activists would not be facing such severe difficulties.
One MP remarked that former autocrat HM Ershad fell during a popular uprising but did not flee; he went to jail instead. It is difficult to understand how Sheikh Hasina, as the leader of a major political party, could leave the country and leave her party and activists behind. Such a crisis for the Awami League, a party that led the liberation war, is unacceptable.
