Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently disclosed that she and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, almost avoided being killed, saying, “We escaped death by 20-25 minutes.” On January 18, 2025, she posted an audio message on her Facebook page that contained this concerning assertion.
Hasina detailed in her statement the precarious situation surrounding her exit from office in the face of growing violence and protests in Bangladesh. Shortly before they were able to escape, she said that there was a plot to murder her and Rehana.
Widespread dissatisfaction with government job quotas and other socioeconomic difficulties had sparked the protests, which resulted in considerable disturbance and an estimated death toll of close to 300 individuals during the fighting.
Hasina’s remarks demonstrate how vulnerable she was when anti-government protests grew very intense. She first resisted leaving her job, but her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy was instrumental in convincing her to flee the country for her safety. Following these events, Bangladesh’s political landscape underwent a drastic upheaval, marking an important turning point in the nation’s history.
