Responding to the court’s death sentence verdict against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a crimes against humanity case, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that justice has been established today (Monday) in the International Crimes Tribunal court.
He expressed this reaction in front of the administrative building of Dhaka University at around 3pm on Monday. Earlier, he had delivered the keynote speech as the chief guest at a seminar held in the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Hall of the university.
Salahuddin said that although the punishment is considerably less compared to the crimes committed by accused Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former IGP Mamun, the maximum penalty under the law has been awarded to them.
While IGP Mamun’s sentence was reduced for cooperating with the trial proceedings, Salahuddin expressed hope that justice would be served in the other ongoing cases against him.
Salahuddin said that today’s (Monday) court verdict has proven several things–no matter how powerful a fascist autocrat may be, no matter how long they illegally hold state power, one day they must stand in the dock of justice.
He said that Sheikh Hasina’s fervent desire to establish a one-party state system and a one-party government system has not been realized.
He further said: “We will move forward through reforms, establish the rule of law in Bangladesh, and create a balanced state system and government system in the country, InshaAllah.”
Salahuddin added that this serves as an example to prevent anyone from establishing a fascist system of governance in this state in the future, to prevent anyone from becoming a fascist themselves, and to prevent the establishment of an iron-fisted rule here.
