New Delhi:
Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her first comments after leaving Dhaka, called for protesters in the country to be punished. She also sought justice for the vandalism committed against the statue of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was also the founder of Bangladesh.
In an emotional three-page statement posted on close colleagues and associates, were exterminated the same night by the army as part of a coup.
After paying them her respects, she turned to the present day, saying that the dance of destruction across the country in the name of protest had also led to many deaths – of “students, teachers, police, journalists, assistants social, common people”. , Awami League leaders and workers, pedestrians and office workers.”
“To those who have lost loved ones like me, I extend my deepest condolences. And to those involved in this massacre, this destruction, I demand that investigations be carried out and that they be captured and receive appropriate punishment,” a rough translation of the document read. his statement in Bengali.
The protesters were not only targeting her, but also the house where she grew up, which was turned into a museum and was visited by many great and powerful people from foreign lands.
“This is now dust… And the memories we had – which have been reduced to ashes… with the disrespect shown to Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership we gained our freedom, recognition, self-respect… the blood shed by thousands of freedom fighters were desecrated… I demand justice for this from my compatriots,” he added.
She added that August 15 will be marked as a day of mourning, spent in showing respect and praying for the martyrs at “Bangabandhu Bhavan”.
Sheikh Hasina, just 28 when Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, remained in exile from 1975 until the late 1980s. During her exile, she rose through the ranks to head the party her father founded and immersed herself in politics. In 1996, she led the Awami League to victory in national elections, becoming Bangladesh’s first female prime minister.
The wave of student protests that led to her removal from office began weeks ago over the quota in public jobs for the families of freedom fighters. But government resistance turned it into demands for Sheikh Hasina to resign.
As the violence escalated, the army swung into action and Sheikh Hasina had to tender her resignation under a 45-minute ultimatum.
She is currently in India, the next part of her journey yet to be announced. But the 76-year-old intends to return to Bangladesh whenever elections are held, her son said.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
