"Dance Of Destruction In Name Of Protest": Sheikh Hasina Breaks Silence

Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in first comments after leaving Dhaka, has sought that rioters in the country be punished. She has also sought justice for the vandalism to the statue of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was also the Founding Father of Bangladesh.

In a three-page emotive statement posted on X by her son Sajeeb Wazed, Sheikh Hasina spoke of the family members she lost when her father was assassinated on August 15, 1975. Mujibur Rahman's sons and their wives, his brother's family, close colleagues and associates, were wiped out the same night by the army as part of a coup.  

After paying her respects to them, she turned to the present day, saying the dance of destruction across the country in the name of protest, has also led to many deaths -- of "students teachers, police, journalists, social workers, common people, leaders and workers of the Awami League, pedestrians and office workers".

"For those who have lost their loved ones like me, i extend my deepest sympathy. And for those involved in this slaughter, this destruction, I demand that investigations be held and they be caught and given appropriate punishment," read a rough translation of her statement in Bengali.

The protesters had not only targeted her, they had also targeted the house she grew up in, one that was turned into a museum and was visited by eminent personalities from foreign shores.

"That is now dust... And the memories we had -- that have been reduced to ashes with the disrespect shown to Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership we got our freedom, recognition, self-respect... the blood shed by thousands of freedom fighters has been desecrated... I demand justice for this from my countrymen," she added.

She added that the coming August 15 be marked as a day of mourning, passed in showing respects and praying for martyrs at "Bangabandhu Bhavan".   

Sheikh Hasina, only 28 when Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, remained in exile from 1975 to late 1980s. While in exile, she rose through the ranks to head the Awami League, the party her father founded, and dived into politics. In 1996, she steered Awami League to victory in the national election, becoming the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

The wave of student protests that saw her out of office had started weeks ago over quota in government jobs for the families of freedom fighters. But the government's resistance had turned it into demands for Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

As the violence spiked, the army took action, and Sheikh Hasina had to hand in her resignation under a 45-minute ultimatum.

She is currently in India, the next part of her journey still un-announced. But the 76-year-old intends to go back to Bangladesh whenever the elections are held, her son has said.