Ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has refused to apologize for the deaths of those killed during last year's student-led protests. She said she had no personal responsibility for the massacre during the July-August protests last year. She also said she would not return to Bangladesh under any government formed other than the Awami League, and would stay in India for now.

Sheikh Hasina has been in India since August 5, 2024, after being ousted from power in a student-led uprising. This is her first official interview published in any international media outlet since her ouster. The interview with Sheikh Hasina, who is in New Delhi, India, was published on Wednesday by Reuters and the UK-based The Independent.

Bangladesh's internal war crimes court, the International Crimes Tribunal, has concluded its hearings on the case against Sheikh Hasina, who is accused of crimes against humanity during the 2024 uprising. According to a UN report, about 1,400 people were killed during that time. Thousands were injured.

Asked whether she would apologise to the families of protesters killed last year, Sheikh Hasina told The Independent, "As a nation, we have lost every child, sibling, relative and friend, I grieve for each and every one of them" and "will continue to offer my condolences".

However, he denied allegations that he ordered the shooting of protesters.

He defended his actions during last year's protests, saying, "I accept no personal responsibility."

He blamed the massive loss of life on "the breakdown of discipline among security forces at the ground level," saying, "As a leader, I take ultimate responsibility for leadership, but the claim that I ordered or wanted security forces to open fire on the crowd is completely false."

His party, the Awami League, is currently banned from political activities in the country. In an emailed response to Reuters, he said, "The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is also suicidal."

He said that despite the political instability, the Awami League will return to play its role in the country's future, whether in the government or in the opposition, and his family does not need to lead it.

He further said, "This is not about me or my family. To achieve the future that Bangladesh wants, constitutional rule and political stability must be restored. No single individual or family can determine the future of the country."

However, his statement is slightly different from previous comments by his son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who lives in Washington and told Reuters last year that he would consider leading the Awami League if requested.

Sheikh Hasina told Reuters that she will not return to the country during the term of any government formed through elections excluding her party and will remain in India.

Expressing her desire to return to the country, Sheikh Hasina further said, 'I want to return to the country, but there is only one condition - there must be a legitimate government there, the constitution must remain intact, and real law and order must be maintained.'

It is worth noting that a case of crimes against humanity is ongoing against Sheikh Hasina at the International Crimes Tribunal on several charges, including violent repression during the July coup and disappearances during the Awami League regime.

Earlier, the tribunal banned the publication or dissemination of any 'hate speech' by the ousted prime minister in the media and social media.