In a surprising message from her temporary residence in New Delhi, Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Bangladeshi leader and Awami League President, sent an official note of congratulations to Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States. In her message, posted on the Awami League’s verified social media accounts, Hasina referred to herself as “Prime Minister of Bangladesh” and praised Trump’s “extraordinary leadership qualities.”
Signed by the Awami League’s office secretary, the letter expressed Hasina’s hope for continued and strengthened ties between Bangladesh and the United States. “The President of the Bangladesh Awami League, (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina, has congratulated Donald J. Trump on his election,” it read, adding that Hasina fondly recalled “several meetings and interactions” she had shared with Trump and Melania Trump during her time in office.
The congratulatory message arrives at a time of political upheaval for Hasina. Following her ouster in August amid mass protests in Bangladesh, she took refuge in India. The protests were sparked by a contentious decision to reinstate a 30% public sector job quota for descendants of 1971 Liberation War veterans, which the Awami League had abolished in 2018. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman subsequently formed an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, now serving as chief adviser.
Though now outside Bangladesh, Hasina’s continued use of her prime ministerial title has raised eyebrows. Many have pointed to the irony of her referring to herself as “Prime Minister” from her safe house in New Delhi’s Lutyens Bungalow Zone, where she has resided under the Indian government’s arrangements for over two months.
In a letter of his own, Yunus also congratulated Trump, emphasizing the longstanding friendship between the U.S. and Bangladesh. He expressed his desire to work together with the incoming U.S. administration, writing, “The possibilities are endless as our two friendly nations explore newer avenues of partnership.”
Meanwhile, Hasina’s comments about her title and her mention of her past meetings with Trump have drawn a mix of humor and skepticism on social media, with some wondering if her self-designation as “Prime Minister” reflects a sign of intended political comeback. However, for now, the former prime minister’s message from afar stands as an unusual moment in Bangladesh’s evolving political narrative.
Source : The print
