Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina stepped down from power on August 5, following a massive public uprising, and subsequently fled to India. On that same morning, a dramatic incident unfolded at Ganabhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam revealed the details of the incident during a hearing at the International Crimes Tribunal.
On May 25, the Chief Prosecutor formally submitted charges to the tribunal in a case concerning crimes against humanity that allegedly took place in the Chankharpul area of Dhaka during the July mass uprising. During the hearing, he recounted that a crucial meeting was held at Ganabhaban on the morning of August 5.
According to him, during the meeting, Sheikh Hasina pointed to the then Inspector General of Police, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, and remarked, "They are doing a good job—why can't the army do the same?" In response, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun explained, "The situation has become so extreme that the police cannot maintain this level of force any longer. We have run out of weapons and ammunition, and the army is also reaching its limit."
Following this exchange, senior military officials advised Sheikh Hasina to relinquish power. Upon hearing this, she reacted angrily and said, "Then shoot me and bury me right here in Ganabhaban."
After that, military personnel escorted Sheikh Hasina to another room within Ganabhaban, where they tried to explain the severity of the situation and urged her once again to step down. At one point, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana also tried to convince her. Despite repeated efforts, Hasina refused to resign. In a desperate attempt, Sheikh Rehana even clung to her sister’s legs, pleading with her—but still, Hasina did not yield. Eventually, the top military officers contacted Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
According to the Chief Prosecutor, military officials told Joy that the only way to save his mother’s life was for her to resign immediately, as the situation had become extremely critical. Ultimately, it was at Joy’s insistence that Sheikh Hasina agreed to step down. Before the army chief's scheduled address to the nation, she left the country and fled to India.
