Dhaka, Aug 14 (Reporter) Eight days after her ouster, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina re-established communication with her countrymen through an emotional social media message, expressing sorrow over the loss of life under the garb of quota movement and demanding punishment for those involved in the recent “terror acts”, killings and vandalism, media reports said on Wednesday. The Awami League leader’s first public message from exile came as a reassurance for her supporters in the troubled country and also signalled her commitment to remain relevant in Bangladesh’s national politics. Recalling the deaths in the recent violence and sacrifices made by her father and Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she called upon the people to observe the National Mourning Day on August 15 in a befitting manner by placing floral wreaths at Bangabandhu Bhaban and offering prayers. Her appeal came in the backdrop of the nation’s interim government’s decision to cancel a national holiday on August 15, marking the assassination the Father of the Nation and his family members. Referring to the recent vandalism at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka and damage to the statue of Mujibur Rahman, she said, “This is a profound insult to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership we achieved our self-respect, our identity, and our independent nation. It is a grave dishonour to the blood of millions of martyrs. I seek justice from the people of this nation.” In message posted on the verified Facebook page of her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina said, “Since last July, the acts of sabotage, arson, and violence in the name of movements have resulted many innocent citizens of our country losing their lives… People like me, who continue to live with the pain of losing their loved ones, I offer my deepest sympathy. I demand a thorough investigation to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these heinous killings and acts of sabotage.” She condoled and prayed for the victims, including students, teachers, police, journalists, cultural activists, and “a pregnant police woman.” Sheikh Hasina’s government was toppled on August 5 in the face of a fierce student-led rebellion that started in June with the demand for replacing the job quotas in government civil service with merit-based recruitments. However, following widespread violence and clashes during the anti-quota movement that led to a bloodbath and over 500 deaths, the students pressed hard with their single-point demand for the PM’s resignation, which ultimately caused the fall of the Hasina-headed Awami League regime. She also expressed her condolence for members of the Awami League and its associate bodies, pedestrians, and various professionals who died in the violence that claimed at least 580 lives between July 16 and August 11, according to Prothom Alo...////...