'You're running away, it's hard to accept'

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina fled to India after resigning in the face of mass protests on August 5. Many top leaders are also believed to have left the country. Some have been arrested while 'trying to leave the country'.

Many leaders of the party cannot accept Sheikh Hasina's escape from the country even in this unfavorable situation.

Several days before the ouster, a rumor was heard in various circles including the social media that Sheikh Hasina had fled the Prime Ministership. Awami League president then responded that Sheikh Hasina is not running away.

“Sheikh Hasina has fled, Sheikh Hasina is gone, Sheikh Hasina is gone; Sheikh Hasina does not run away,” said the former prime minister at a press conference on July 24.

However, exactly 10 days after this incident, after millions of people came down on the streets, the Awami League president fled to India in a helicopter on the afternoon of August 5, which the leaders and activists of the party still cannot accept.

A BBC Bengali report highlighted the matter. A leader of Awami League's Dhaka district told the media, “I still can't believe it.” It is difficult to accept that you are running away.

He also said, “Those who know Sheikh Hasina, know. Those who have seen him up close will not believe it. Because he is not a person to run away at all.”

He also thinks that the situation would have been different if the Awami League president had not left the country.

The leader said, if you were in the country, the leaders and activists would have gained strength. As a result, the team at least did not have to see the disaster as it is now.

He also thinks that Sheikh Hasina should return to the country even if she faces trial. This Awami League leader said, I think you should return to the country soon. If he steps on the soil of the country, you will see that the leaders and activists have woken up again.

Another Trinamool leader said the same thing. He said, after losing power Khaleda Zia did not leave, even like Ershad did not run away from dictatorship. We still cannot understand why the leader left the country.