Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina releases statement, asks citizens to observe National Mourning Day

Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina, the deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh, released a statement on August 13 through her son Sajeeb Wazed's X account, asking her countrymen to observe the National Day of Mourning on August 15 with due dignity and solemnity.

In the post, originally in Bengali, Hasina recounted how her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh and the Father of the Nation, was brutally killed along with some of his family members on August 15, 1975.

The former PM of Bangladesh also talks about the hundreds of lives lost during the recent agitations in the country since July, and prayed for their souls. As someone who has seen violent deaths of own family members from close quarters, Hasina paid her condolences, and demanded that those involved in these killings and vandalism be properly investigated and punished accordingly.

Here is the full translated version of Hasina's message that was released on X:

Dear countrymen,

Assalamualaikum

Brothers and sisters, on August 15, 1975, the President of Bangladesh, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed. I pay my deep respect for him.

On that same day, my mother Begum Fazilatunnesa, my three freedom fighter brothers - Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal, and their newlyweds Sultana Kamal and Rosi Jamal, my younger brother Sheikh Russel, who was only 10 years then, was brutally killed. My only uncle - Freedom fighter and physically crippled Sheikh Nasser, President's Military Secretary Brigadier Jamil Uddin and police officer Siddiqur Rahman were also brutally killed. I salute all of them.

Freedom fighter Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni and his pregnant wife Arju Moni, Agriculture Minister and Freedom fighter Abdur Rab Sarniabad, his 10-year-old son Arif, is 13-year old daughter Baby, four-year-old grandson Sukanto, his brother's son freedom fighter journalist Shahid Sarniabad along with nephew Rentu and many others were all brutally killed.

May the souls of all those who were martyred on August 15 be forgiven.

I wish and paying my respects to the martyrs.

Since last July, many fresh lives have been lost due to vandalism, arson and violence in the name of agitation. To the students, teachers, police and even women police, journalists, cultural workers, working people, Awami League and allied organizations leaders, workers, pedestrians and employees of various institutions who died as victims of terrorist attacks, I pay my condolences - may their souls rest in peace.

My condolences to those like me who are living with the pain of losing a loved one. I demand that those involved in these killings and vandalism be properly investigated and the culprits be identified and punished accordingly.

Dear Countrymen,

we two sisters dedicated the house that bears the memory of the infernal killings that took place in Dhanmondi Bangabandhu Bhavan on August 15, 1975 to the people of Bangladesh. A memorial museum was built. Starting from the common people of the country, dignitaries of the country and abroad have come to this house. This museum is a memorial of freedom.

Keeping all the pains of losing our loved ones in our hearts, we have been serving you, dear countrymen, with the aim of bringing smiles to the faces of the suffering people of Bangladesh. You have also started getting its results - Bangladesh has been ranked as a developing country in the world. Today, all that has been destroyed.

And the memory that was the basis of our survival has been burnt to ashes. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership we have gained self-esteem as an independent nation, got self-identity and got an independent country, has been grossly insulted. Insulted the blood of millions of martyrs. I want justice from the countrymen.

I appeal to you to observe the National Day of Mourning on August 15 with due dignity and solemnity. Pray for the salvation of all souls by offering flowers and praying at Bangabandhu Bhavan.

May Allah Almighty bless the people of Bangladesh. Khoda Hafez. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.

Sheikh Hasina