Former Bangladesh leader calls for inquiry into killings during unrest that led to her ouster
Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for an investigation into those responsible for the killings of students and others during weeks of protests.
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on Tuesday from self-exile in India for an investigation into those responsible for the killings of students and others during weeks of violent protests that prompted her ouster.
Hasina, who stepped down and fled Bangladesh on Aug. 5 after student activists led an uprising against her government, is herself accused of responsibility for much of the deadly violence, and activists have demanded that she be put on trial.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina said she wanted an investigation and demanded “punishment for those responsible for the killings and sabotage.” It was her first public statement since leaving Bangladesh.
More than 300 people were killed in unrest that started in July with protests against a quota system for government jobs that later morphed into a movement against what was considered Hasina’s increasingly autocratic administration. The uprising eventually forced Hasina to leave office and flee to India, ending her 15-year rule.
Some of the violence pitted student activists against pro-government student and youth groups and police, and many of those who died were among the student activists. However, Hasina’s statement underlined that police officers, members of her Awami League political party, bystanders and others also were victims of what she described as “terrorist aggression.” She previously has blamed opposition parties for stoking the unrest.
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