KEEN TO FIGHT ELECTIONS: HASINA FROM HIDEOUT

As for the UN's fatality estimate, we dispute that figure. It is significantly higher than the Ministry of Health's own calculations and is based on undocumented and closely controlled evidence supplied to the UN Human Rights Commissioner by the interim government.

- GAUTAM LAHIRI

AFTER 15 months of her stay in an undisclosed location in India, exiled former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has finally spoken her mind in an exclusive email interview. For the first time, she accepts "leadership responsibility" for the killing of citizens during the mass protest against her government from July 15 to August 5, 2024. Here's the full text of the interview:

The Bangladeshi authorities have banned the Awami League from contesting the general elections early next year. Are your party members considering running as independents?

The decision to ban the Awami League is deeply undemocratic and a clear violation of Bangladesh's constitution and of the fundamental rights of the electorate. It shortchanges millions of people. Historically, when parties have not participated in previous elections, Bangladeshi voters have simply not voted, rather than transfer their vote to other parties. So our priority is to continue fighting for the rights of our voters.

If the Awami League and its members refuse to contest elections in any form, what do you think the impact will be for Bangladesh?

We are not refusing to contest elections. On the contrary, we ardently wish to participate. But we have been banned from doing so by an administration that is itself unelected and which clearly has no respect for democracy.

We have to break this cycle of parties either boycotting elections or being banned, because it undermines the legitimacy of the government. Bangladesh badly needs to hold a free, fair and inclusive election, so that the country can begin to heal and move towards reconciliation. You cannot achieve this by banning the Awami League. We are woven into the country's modern history and independence, and tens of millions support us.