Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India last week following widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.
Reminding the countrymen of her family’s sacrifices, she wrote, “Brothers and sisters, on August 15, 1975, the President of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was brutally assassinated. I have deep respect for him. At the same time my mother Begum Fazilatunnessa, my three brothers freedom fighter Captain Sheikh Kamal, freedom fighter Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal, Kamal and Jamal’s newlywed bride Sultana Kamal and Rozi Jamal, my younger brother who was only 10 years old brutally killed Sheikh Russell. My only uncle brutally killed freedom fighter Sheikh Nasser, President’s Military Secretary Brigadier Jamil Uddin, Police Officer Siddiqur Rahman.”
“Freedom fighter Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni and his pregnant wife Arju Moni, Agriculture Minister Abdur Rab Sarniabad, his 10-year-old son Arif, 13-year-old daughter Baby, 4-year-old grandson Sukanth, brother’s son freedom fighter journalist Shaheed Sarniabad, nephew Rentu and many others were brutally killed. . May the souls of all those who were martyred on August 15th be forgiven and Paying my respects to the martyrs,” read the translated version of her message in Bengali.
On the violence in Bangladesh last month, she said, “Since last July, many fresh lives have been lost due to vandalism, arson and violence in the name of agitation. Students, teachers, policemen, women policemen, journalists, cultural workers, working people, Awami League and allied organizations leaders, workers, passers-by and employees of various institutions who have died due to terrorist attacks, I am condoling and praying for the repose of their souls. 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.”
Hasina said that Bangladesh, which has got the status of developing country, is now ‘dusty’.”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. They insulted the blood of millions of martyrs. I want justice from the countrymen,” she added.She appealed to the people to observe the National Mourning Day on 15th August.