Reaction of the Left Alliance to Hasina’s Verdict

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk:
The Left Democratic Alliance has reacted to the death sentence handed down to the ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising. Following a meeting of its Central Executive Council, the alliance stated that the verdict demonstrates that no one is above the law. They also called for the judicial process to remain beyond question in both national and international arenas.

The council meeting was held on Tuesday (18 November) at 5:00 PM at the BASAD office on Topkhana Road in Dhaka.

The resolution adopted at the meeting noted that the people of Bangladesh demand fair and just trials for the killings that occurred during the July–August uprising last year. The prosecution of those responsible for any killings is the wish of all democratic-minded citizens. While the verdict has provided some solace to the families of martyrs, the alliance emphasized that both victims’ families and the accused should receive justice through a transparent judicial process, proving that no one is above the law.

The resolution further stated that the alliance hopes the judicial process will remain unchallenged nationally and internationally, and that all stages of the trial—including appeals and reviews—are conducted fairly and transparently.

The resolution criticized the fact that while the judges handed capital punishment to those in superior responsibility, the head of law enforcement involved in executing the order (the former IGP) was sentenced to only five years, which neither the martyrs’ families nor the Left Alliance accepted.

It added that ample evidence of the July killings exists in electronic media and other devices, and that the United Nations Human Rights Commission also possesses significant evidence, which could be provided if the government requests it. Therefore, there was no need to rely on the testimony of a single state witness.

The resolution urged the prosecution to appeal for proper punishment of the former IGP, warning that failing to do so may embolden law enforcement to act with impunity in the future.

The alliance called for fair and complete justice for all killings during the July–August uprising, and for all guilty parties to be punished, so that anyone contemplating fascist behavior in the future would at least think twice.

The meeting was presided over by Comrade Bazlur Rashid Firoz, coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of BASAD Central Committee. Other attendees included Comrade Sajjad Zahir Chondon (President, CPB), Professor Abdus Sattar (Member, Editorial Board, Revolutionary Communist League), Mosrufa Mishu (General Secretary, Democratic Revolutionary Party), Masud Rana (Coordinator, BASAD Marxist), Abdul Ali (Executive President, Socialist Party), Rajekuzzaman Ratan (Assistant General Secretary, BASAD), Nikhil Das (Editorial Board Member), and Shahidul Islam Shobuj (Central Leader, Democratic Revolutionary Party).