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National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has demanded that the death sentence of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in the face of the July Uprising, be carried out within a month, reports bdnews24.com.
The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, sentenced Hasina to death in a case over crimes against humanity committed during the student-led mass movement on Monday.
Apart from Hasina, the court also sentenced former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death. Like his party chief, Asaduzzaman is also believed to be on the run in India.
In response to the verdict, Nahid said at a media briefing at the NCP’s office on Monday: “The criminals convicted of enforced disappearances and genocide are the worst not only in Bangladesh, but also in the history of the world. Sheikh Hasina has been identified as a murderer and a bloodthirsty fascist.
“As a result, the trial of Sheikh Hasina will not only set an example for Bangladesh, but also for all authoritarian and fascist rulers in the history of the world.”
Nahid, a frontline leader of the July Uprising, set a deadline of a month for the implementation of the verdict.
In his statement, he said: “We demand that this verdict against Sheikh Hasina, the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal, be carried out as soon as possible. Sheikh Hasina must be brought back to Bangladesh within the next month and this verdict must be implemented.
“We believe that this is a step forward in the movement and fight to prosecute all the crimes that the fascist Awami League engaged in over the past 16 years, including the July genocide.”
He also demanded the death penalty for former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal be carried out, saying “In addition, the Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League and all the fascists and their allies, and the government officials who are accused must be tried as soon as possible.
“The trial process that has started must continue. Everyone must work together to ensure that there are no obstacles in the way.”
Hasina is the first head of government of Bangladesh to face the death penalty.