A bombshell leaked recording of a senior US diplomat has ignited fierce controversy over America’s alleged role in toppling Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina government last year. The audio, which surfaced amid ongoing political tensions, has prompted sharp accusations from Hasina’s Awami League, questioning Washington’s involvement in the dramatic 2024 upheaval.
Former Bangladeshi Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, speaking at a recent event, declared the recording validates long-held suspicions within the Awami League. ‘This isn’t an organic revolution,’ he asserted, pointing to the diplomat’s candid discussion on engaging Islamist forces and steering Bangladesh’s post-Hasina trajectory.
The leak, detailed in a StratNews Global report, captures the diplomat strategizing about the country’s political future after Hasina’s ouster on August 5, 2024. Forced to flee to India amid violent protests, Hasina has remained in New Delhi ever since, watching her nation’s turmoil from afar.
Chowdhury lambasted the current Yunus administration, accusing it of orchestrating an ‘open conspiracy’ to manipulate post-election governments. He warned of dire consequences from sidelining major parties like Awami League, which could disenfranchise millions of voters and prop up an illegitimate regime lacking popular mandate.
This scandal draws uncomfortable parallels to recent regime changes in Nepal and unrest in France, where US influence has been whispered about but never proven. Critics now demand a thorough probe into US meddling in Bangladesh, fueling debates on foreign interference in sovereign affairs.
As Awami League leaders seize the moment to attack the interim government, the leaked audio has thrust Washington into the spotlight. Whether it reveals a masterminded plot or mere diplomatic chatter remains unclear, but the fallout promises to reshape Bangladesh’s political discourse for years.