Sheikh Hasina demands justice for violence in first statement after ouster

In her first public statement since being ousted from power, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for justice against those responsible for the recent violence in the country.

She also urged for accountability in the vandalism of the statue of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh.

The statement, which spans three pages, was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by her son. In it, Sheikh Hasina reflects on the tragic loss of her family members during the assassination of her father on August 15, 1975. That night, her father, along with his sons, their wives, and other close relatives and associates, were brutally killed in a military coup.

After paying tribute to her slain family members, Hasina addressed the current unrest in Bangladesh.

She condemned the widespread violence and destruction carried out under the guise of protests, which she said has claimed the lives of many, including "students, teachers, police officers, journalists, social workers, ordinary citizens, leaders and members of the Awami League, pedestrians, and office workers."

Expressing her deep sympathy for those who, like her, have lost loved ones, Hasina demanded thorough investigations into the recent violence and insisted that those responsible be brought to justice and appropriately punished.