Awami League Competes In The Next General Election

The Awami League has not permanently faded from the political landscape of Bangladesh, and the party could participate in the country’s next general election. This observation was shared by M. Touhid Hossain, the former Foreign Affairs Adviser to the interim government, during an exclusive television interview broadcast on Jamuna Television. Reflecting on the transient nature of collective public memory within the country, the former advisor remarked that the political entity would eventually stage a return to active politics.

During the extensive broadcast, the former Foreign Affairs Adviser detailed his administrative experiences, structural challenges, and the internal operational dynamics he observed during his tenure within the interim administration. Hossain disclosed that he had seriously contemplated resigning from his ministerial post on at least three separate occasions due to unspecified considerations. However, senior leadership within the administration intervened, advising him that his abrupt departure would create a severely embarrassing situation for the interim government during a critical transitional period.

Deep State Maneuvers And Internal Influence Circles

When questioned by the interviewer regarding the potential involvement of a “deep state” or invisible foreign or domestic intelligence forces during the July mass uprising, Hossain noted that hidden structural forces are inherently linked to major global geopolitical events. He clarified that these covert entities rarely operate entirely against prevailing public sentiments or socio-political currents. Instead, they position themselves to align with the existing momentum, attempting to manipulate and direct the outcomes to suit their long-term strategic objectives once a movement has gained sufficient traction.

Furthermore, Hossain addressed persistent reports regarding the existence of an influential internal circle, commonly referred to as a “kitchen cabinet,” operating behind the scenes to steer the interim administration’s policy decisions. The former adviser verified the existence of this group by revealing that he was personally required to attend one of their sessions held at the Yamuna (Jamuna) State Guest House on a specific occasion. Following this encounter, he discovered that this particular group conducted structured meetings every Tuesday to formulate key governmental policies and state directives. Hossain acknowledged that various institutional rumours regarding the hidden operations of this influential circle had routinely reached him during his time in office.

Trade Agreements And Extradition Diplomatic Track

The former Foreign Affairs Adviser also provided critical clarifications regarding the highly discussed trade agreement signed between the interim government and the United States of America, which was finalised a mere three days prior to a scheduled election. Hossain explicitly stated that neither he, in his capacity as the head of foreign affairs, nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had any involvement or input into the formulation and signing of the trade pact. The entire bilateral negotiation and processing were managed exclusively by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Security Adviser.

Hossain noted that there may have been specific underlying pressures or binding obligations that necessitated the rapid execution of the pact. However, he maintained that unless the government was trapped in an completely unavoidable situation, the most appropriate diplomatic and administrative course of action would have been to defer the signing of such a significant international agreement to the subsequent elected government.

Finally, addressing the sensitive diplomatic issue of the formal letter sent to New Delhi requesting the extradition of the ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, from India, Hossain revealed his prior assessment of the situation. He stated that he was fully aware from the outset that the Indian government would not provide a positive or cooperative response to the formal request. When asked by the interviewer why no official reply had been received from the Indian authorities, Hossain responded with a counter-question, asking whether the administration had genuinely expected a reply. He concluded by clarifying that he personally harboured no expectations of receiving a favourable outcome from New Delhi.