Former Prime Minister Calls for Investigation Amid Protests in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has called for an investigation into the violent protests that led to her ouster, while she remains in self-exile in India. Hasina fled the country on August 5 after student-led protests erupted against her government, which activists accuse of being increasingly autocratic. The unrest, which began in July over a controversial quota system for government jobs, resulted in over 300 deaths, primarily among student activists. Hasina has faced accusations of responsibility for the violence, with calls for her trial from various activist groups. In her statement, Hasina emphasized that not only student activists but also police officers and members of her Awami League party were victims of what she termed “terrorist aggression.” She has previously attributed the unrest to opposition parties inciting violence. On the same day, police initiated a murder investigation against Hasina and other officials, marking the beginning of what could be multiple legal cases related to the violence. This development coincided with the interim government’s decision to cancel a public holiday that Hasina had declared to honor her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The political landscape in Bangladesh has shifted dramatically following Hasina's departure, with the parliament dissolved and many of her party's leaders either in hiding or barred from leaving the country. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has begun to form a new cabinet, including civil society representatives and student leaders. The protests, which initially sought reform in government job quotas, have highlighted broader discontent with Hasina's administration, which faced international criticism for its electoral practices earlier this year.