THE escape of many leaders of the Awami League accused of killing several hundred students and people during the July uprising, who the nation expects to be held to justice, is unacceptable. Such escapes of the perpetrators of the mass murder is an insult to victims and their family. While the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India amid the student-led mass uprising on August 5, dozens of leaders and activists of the Awami League also fled the country and took refuge in other countries. The escape of the general secretary, also the former roads and bridges minister, of the deposed Awami League has recently made the headlines. Despite there being a warrant for his arrest issued by the International Crimes Tribunal and 45 other Awami League leaders over allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity, he managed to flee the country. The chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal on December 17 brought to the tribunal鈥檚 attention that Obaidul Quader had remained inside the country for months after the warrant was issued on October 17. The tribunal has directed the police chief to explain how Awami League general secretary managed to leave the country despite a warrant for his arrest having been there. It has asked the police chief to submit a detailed explanation in two weeks.
The escape of the Awami League鈥檚 general secretary is shocking as it was he who on July 15 said that the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, was ready to counter the protesters, who were then peacefully protesting against the discriminatory quota system in public services recruitment. Chhatra League activists that very day forced the peaceful protest to enter a violent phase with attacks on protesters, including female students, at universities. As the protest intensified, the government took one brutal measure after another that left more than 700 dead and many more injured. The escape of the general secretary has, therefore, understandably disappointed all who seek justice. What should also be noted is that people, especially the victims, protesters and their families, are generally disappointed regarding a perceived failure of the interim government to adequately respond to their demand for justice. While there are hundreds of videos and photographs of hundreds of members of Awami League fronts and law enforcement agencies who killed the protesters and wounded thousands during the uprising, the government has only been able to arrest a few of them while the majority are still at large. What is also highly threatening is that many of the Awami League activists are still trying to destabilise the country and the government.
The government, therefore, owes an explanation. While the police chief must comply with court directives, the government needs to be proactive in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The government should also bring to justice the people who have helped the accused to flee the country.