Hasina urges global community to press for release of detained Awami members

DHAKA: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Friday reached out to the "international community", to push for release of detained Awami League members, lifting of the ban on her party's activities and withdrawal of what she described as fabricated cases, while alleging over 1,000 babies died after Muhammad Yunus' administration and its successor BNP govt failed to procure measles vaccines."International community must also support an independent international investigation" into the developments in Bangladesh, she said while virtually addressing an event on a day PM Tarique Rahman addressed UNGA. Tarique spoke around 3 am Friday while Hasina around 6 am.The ticketed event "International Press Conference Bangladesh: Save the Country, People & Democracy" was held in New York - a title and venue many said she chose after Dhaka raised objections after her virtual Aug 5 presser."So, I ask our friends in the international community and everyone who believes in democracy - call for the release of detained former MPs and political prisoners. Call for the ban on Awami League to be lifted and every fabricated case to be withdrawn," she said. "To my people at home, I say this, you are not forgotten. Your pain is my pain. Your hope is my strength," said Hasina, whose camera was off.Slamming the administrations following her ouster in 2024, Hasina said, "More than 1,000 babies have died because they failed to procure measles vaccines." She said that "a child who misses years of school or a vaccine at the right age can never fully get that back. Students must return to class, teachers must be protected and immunisation must be restored without delay," she said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.