‘Will they let everything go if we apologise?’: Joy says AL acknowledges ‘mistakes’ during July Uprising, questions call for apology

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in a recent interview, said the Awami League government had admitted to making mistakes during the July movement but argued that demands for an apology were inconsistent in light of the indemnity given for killings that took place after 5 August 2024.

Responding to criticism that the party had shown no remorse over casualties during the protests, Joy said the question of an apology was not straightforward. 

During the interview with BBC Bangla journalist Abul Kalam Azad, published on 28 November, Joy said, “Will they let everything go if we apologise?”. He added that the Awami League had “always acknowledged” its mistakes. 

“There were mistakes at the beginning of the movement. There were mistakes later as well. A clear investigation must be conducted into that.”

Watch

He said his mother, then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, had established a judicial commission before 5 August to investigate all killings during the unrest, noting that not only students and civilians but also police personnel and Awami League leaders and activists were killed. 

“A clear investigation is needed to determine who is responsible,” he said.

Joy claimed the then-government had taken action against several police officials during the movement. However, he argued that calls for an apology from the Awami League conflicted with the indemnity granted by the current administration under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

“If justice is to be done and apologies are to be made, then from 5 August to 15 August all the killings have been given indemnity by the Yunus government,” he said. 

“On one hand you are saying the Awami League must apologise, and on the other hand you are saying that those who killed police – who killed Awami League leaders and activists – all their murders are pardoned. How does that work? 

“If that is the case, then what is there for the Awami League to apologise for?”