In the DW-Exclusive Interview of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled out a further term of office. She went on to accusations of its critics and called for international assistance in the refugee crisis.
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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the DW-exclusive interview
A month ago, Sheikh Hasina has taken for the fourth Time by the office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Her party, the Awami League, won in the parliamentary elections along with its coalition partners, 96 percent of the votes.
In her first Interview with an international foreign channels after coming to power Sheikh Hasina from the castle, you’ll fight another Time. She said in an Interview with DW editor-in-chief Ines Pohl: “This is my third term in a row. And from 1996 to 2001 I was also the head of government. So this is my fourth term. I don’t want to continue after that. Everyone has to take a break to make way for the younger Generation.”
Economic recovery with defects
In the past ten years, Bangladesh has made under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina rapid economic progress and is now classified as a country on the way to middle-income. The annual growth of the economy is between six and seven per cent, of the foreign trade grew, as well as the foreign investment in Bangladesh.
Despite these upward trends, every fourth inhabitant of Bangladesh, according to the world Bank arm. Sheikh Hasina referred to the fight against poverty as a “top priority” in your new term: “Adequate nutrition, a roof over your head, education, health care, jobs – these are basic needs. Clearly, every person a better life. We must guarantee.”
Hasina: the fight against poverty as a “top priority”
“Not weakness of the Opposition, my fault”
Successes in economic growth and development have, however, the critics of Sheikh Hasina are not silenced. Those throw of her, against restrictions on freedom of expression and against attacks on liberal intellectuals, too little done. This will let the old and the new Prime Minister do not apply. You have supports at all times the freedom of thought in the country, so Hasina. The criticism is with this growth as a matter of course. “More work also means more criticism. You ask my people, if he is satisfied or not, what do you think of it, if it gets the things it needs, if I can take care of this.”
Also, the criticism of Hasina and her Awami League had allowed no political debate, but a One-party rule, want to aspire to, rejects you: “In the recent election in 260 out of 300 constituencies, candidates of the Awami were elected to the League. This means that also other parties are represented in Parliament. From a One-party rule, there can be no question.”
The weakness of the opposition parties was self-inflicted: “If a certain party can’t establish a connection to the voters, if she gets neither trust nor vote, who’s fault is that? This shows that this party can do it.”
Sheikh Hasina at the inauguration in January 2019
To fundamentalists close to?
The liberal circles in Bangladesh accuse Sheikh Hasina, to Hefasat you keep in close contact with the fundamentalist group-i-Islam and do religious fanatics too many concessions.
A point of criticism in this context refers to the decision of the government, a diploma (Qawmi Madrasah), which is given by the traditional Islamic religious schools in the country, as an official, a Master’s degree equivalent to recognise.
Critics point out that those who advocate for the recognition of the Qawmi Madrasah diploma, came usually from fundamentalist circles, and against equality for women. According to the head of the national regulatory authority for religious schools, Shah Ahmad Shafi, recently announced that girls should not go to school.
Also, the DW asks critically. Sheikh Hasina will not be made for such Statements: “Everyone is allowed to speak freely in that country his mind. So everyone is allowed to Express his own ideas of how things should be.”
Hasina with Ines Pohl (2.v.l.), DW editor-in-chief and Debarati Guha (3.v.l.), Director of Asia programs
“We have caused a rethink about the role of the daughters.”
You’ll certainly do everything to ensure that education for women is progressing, so Hasina. “I have ensured that the school is for girls up to class 12 free of charge, and that there are scholarships from the government.”
The Prime Minister says that the measures of your government have led to a rethink on the part of the population: “in the past, the attitude of the parents was: ‘Why should we send our daughter to school? One day she marries and belongs to a different family.’ Now, people think: ‘Yes, I will send my daughter to school so you can earn your own money. After that, you can still marry her.’ That is, we have the effect of a gradual change in society.”
On the question of whether or not Islamic organizations could prevent you from achieving your goals, says Sheikh Hasina: “of Course. What has been achieved, remains. This work will continue.”
Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar
The refugee crisis as the Rohingya
In addition to the improvement of the living standards for the population, and in addition to the delicate political balancing act between liberal and fundamentalist forces, the Drama of the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, is high on the Agenda of Sheikh Hasina. Since 2017 700,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic group of Myanmar, fled to Bangladesh, in front of massive violence by the military of Myanmar. Most of them live since then, under the most difficult conditions in two large catch-all Bazaar store in the district of Cox’s at the border to Myanmar.
This massive immigration of the Region’s major socio-economic problems. Not only because of the humanitarian effort, but also because the newcomers with the Locals in the competition for Land, jobs and business building.
The government of Hasina is looking for ways to give at least some refugees may have better prospects than in the Camps. Bangladesh need a medium-term Plan for the Thousands of babies that were born in the Camps, and for the young people, the waste without work in the Camps, their time, says Sheikh Hasina. “We have made an island to find, and there is protection against tropical storms, as well as residential buildings. We want to bring these young people out there and you work there, so that you can have meaningful employment and earn money.”
A reception camp at the border to Myanmar
“Pressure on Bangladesh by refugees is increasing,”
Sheikh Hasina said: “We do not want to fight with Myanmar. We also strive for collaboration with China and India. But the pressure on Bangladesh to take.” She adds: “in My opinion, the international community, including the EU, a certain degree of responsibility (for the repatriation of refugees to Myanmar). This is a responsibility that should not be exhausted only in the performance of humanitarian aid to the Rohingyas in the Camps in Bangladesh. The same help can be given to the refugees in accommodation in Myanmar, as soon as you are admitted.”
The Interview with Sheikh Hasina was conducted by DW editor-in-chief Ines Pohl, and Debarati Guha, the head of the DW-Asia programs.