Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has refused to apologize for the deaths of at least 1,400 people during Bangladesh’s July 2024 Uprising, saying she mourns the victims but rejects accusations that she ordered security forces to fire on protesters.
In written interviews with Reuters, AFP, and the Independent, Hasina called the charges of crimes against humanity “politically motivated” and said her ongoing trial was unfair. Prosecutors have sought the death penalty, accusing her of authorizing lethal force against demonstrators.
Hasina denied the allegation, saying an audio recording suggesting she gave such orders was “taken out of context.” She maintained that mistakes were made within the chain of command but denied direct involvement. The violence marked Bangladesh’s deadliest unrest since the 1971 Liberation War, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and international rights groups.