Sheikh Hasina says escaped death by 20-25 minutes as Bangladesh Awami League shares audio note

Hasina turns emotional, says survial must be a will of Allah

"I just feel that surviving the killings on August 21 or surviving the huge bomb in Kotalipara, surviving on this time August 5, 2024, there must be a will of Allah, a hand of Allah," ANI quotes Hasina as saying.

In an emotionally tearful voice, she said, "Although I am suffering, I am without my country, without my home, everything has been burned. 

She added, "However, it seems to be the mercy of Allah that I am still alive because Allah wants me to do something more." 

When Hasina escaped an attack in 2004

Sheikh Hasina's security has generally been beefed up as she escaped several assassination plots, including the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack that took place at an anti-terrorism rally organized by Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. 

In the attack, 24 people lost their lives while 500 sustained injuries. The attack followed Sheikh Hasina's address to a crowd of 20,000 people from the back of a truck. Hasina, who was the leader of opposition at that time, also sustained some injuries in the attack.

Background of political instability in Bangladesh

Last year in August, Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power in Bangladesh following a student-led movement that stormed the entire country.

The protests saw 600 people killed. Hasina fled to India as the protests intensified and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed in Bangladesh. 

(With ANI inputs)