Most political parties on Monday expressed satisfaction over the death sentence handed down to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan for atrocities committed during the July uprising in 2024.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed in his immediate reaction on the Dhaka University campus said that the verdict delivered against Sheikh Hasina set an example of fair justice and stood as a 鈥榣esson for the future鈥�.
鈥業t sends a message that no one can establish a fascist system, become a fascist, or create a one-person rule again,鈥� he said.
Terming the verdict a 鈥榤ilestone鈥�, Salahuddin said that the court鈥檚 decision showed that no matter how powerful a fascist ruler became or how illegitimately they controlled state power, the long arm of justice inevitably reached them.
He also said that the convicts received punishments far lighter than the crimes they committed.
鈥楤ut the law does not allow any harsher sentence than this,鈥� he added.
Mentioning that there聽 were many more cases against the three, he expressed hope that fair justice would be ensured for those also.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a post on his verified Facebook said, 鈥榃e believe that today鈥檚 verdict is not just a judgement on Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 crimes, but a burial of all forms of dictatorship on this country鈥檚 soil.鈥�
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami termed the verdict against Sheikh Hasina and others as transparent, neutral and international standard.
It also called on the neighbouring country to hand over Hasina immediately to the Bangladesh government.
Party secretary general Mia Golam Porwar at a press conference at its central office after the verdict said that the day would be marked in the country鈥檚 history as triumphant proof of rule of law.
Through the verdict people鈥檚 aspirations were met partially, as a prime minister was punished for the first time, the party said.
The National Citizen Party urged the authorities to swiftly execute the death sentences handed down to Hasina and Asaduzzaman in the crimes against humanity case.
NCP convener Nahid Islam at a press conference at their central office said that Hasina must be brought back to Bangladesh within the next one month and the verdict must be executed.
He said, 鈥楽heikh Hasina鈥檚 trial will stand out as an example not only for Bangladesh, but also for all authoritarian and fascist rulers in the world.鈥�
Describing the verdict as a milestone in the country鈥檚 judicial history, Nahid said, 鈥楤ut we will be fully content only when the verdict is executed.鈥�
Calling for immediate steps to bring Hasina back from India to execute the verdict, Nahid said that the government must play an effective role in this regard.
He urged for continuation of the activities of the International Crimes Tribunal even after the next general election.
The NCP convener further said that the verdict had made it clear that Awami League was collectively responsible for crimes against humanity.
鈥極ur appeal to the tribunal is to begin the trial of Awami League as a party,鈥� he said.
Nahid also said that they were not satisfied with the five-year jail sentence of former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun as he had also committed the same crimes.
鈥楨ven if he was a state witness, his sentence should have been much harsher, and this matter should be taken to the Appellate Division for reconsideration,鈥� he added.
Bangladesh Rashtra Sanskar Andolan, a partner of Ganatantra Mancha, appreciated the verdict and termed it as the victory of rule of law.
The central committee of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, however, in a press release termed the verdict as arranged and said that the 鈥榰nconstitutional鈥� interim government had no right to hold such trial.
Earlier in the day, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 convicted ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun in a case related to crimes against humanity committed during last year鈥檚 July uprising, killing more than 1,000 people.
The tribunal sentenced Hasina and Asaduzzaman to death, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who gave testimony as a state approver, to five-year imprisonment.
