SynopsisFormer Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleges the interim government halted a judicial inquiry. She claims this move prevents the truth about July-August 2024 violence from emerging. Hasina stated the protests were an organized political campaign, not a student movement. She also noted widespread violence and attacks on government institutions occurred. The former leader has been living in India since August last year.Agencies'They did not allow the truth to come out': Hasina attacks Bangladesh interim govtFormer Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday accused the country's interim government of halting a judicial inquiry into the violence that rocked Bangladesh in July-August 2024, alleging that the move was aimed at preventing the truth from emerging.Addressing a media event in New Delhi virtually, Hasina said she had expanded the probe into a three-member judicial commission on August 1, 2024, to ensure a "credible" investigation, but claimed the inquiry was stopped after the change in government."At first, on 1st August, I strengthened the inquiry into a three-member commission so that the investigation would be credible and competitive.But after giving power, the political interim government led by Muhammad Minyoz stopped the investigation?They did not allow the truth to come out. They gave indemnity to those who involved in the killings if they truly wanted justice. Why did they stop the inquiry?If they had nothing to hide, what about the killers?That one decision tells the truth.They did not want justice. They wanted power. They did not want investigation. They wanted the evidences for it. Their old words expose the truth."Hasina maintained that the protests over the quota system in July 2024 were not a peaceful student movement but were transformed into an organised political campaign aimed at removing her government.She said her administration had initially attempted to resolve the issue through dialogue, legal measures and discussions with student representatives, including meetings at the prime minister's residence involving senior ministers. According to Hasina, the movement later shifted from demands for quota reforms to calls for her resignation, while "false propaganda" was used to mobilise students.Citing remarks she attributed to Muhammad Yunus, Hasina alleged that the agitation had been "meticulously designed" and was directed by unseen organisers rather than being a spontaneous protest.The former prime minister further alleged that the protests escalated into widespread violence from July 15, with attacks on police stations, government offices, transport infrastructure, hospitals, businesses, media establishments and prisons. She claimed weapons were looted, prisoners released and hundreds of police installations attacked, while law enforcement personnel were killed or assaulted.Questioning criticism of the security forces' response, Hasina said it was the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to protect public property, government institutions and citizens during violent unrest.She said her government had constituted a judicial inquiry commission on July 18, 2024, to investigate every death and incident of violence, and that she had directed authorities to provide free medical treatment to those injured during the unrest.Read More News on