Hasina alleged that the student-led quota protests of July and August 2024 were transformed into a movement aimed at overthrowing her government.

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday delivered her first public address since being ousted from power and leaving the country in 2024, accusing the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating a carefully planned campaign to remove her government.

Beginning her speech on an emotional note, Hasina paid tribute to her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the martyrs of Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War, and members of her family who were killed in the 1975 massacre. At several points during her address, her voice faltered as she recalled the tragedy.

Claims over 2024 protests

Hasina alleged that the student-led quota protests of July and August 2024 were transformed into a movement aimed at overthrowing her government. According to her, the demonstrations were not peaceful from the outset and eventually evolved into a coordinated campaign designed to seize power outside the democratic process.