BNP leaders expect Sheikh Hasina to be returned by India for legal action

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the General Secretary of Bangladesh’s BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), has voiced his expectation that India will hand over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh, where she will be put on trial for her alleged “fascist” actions. 

His statement followed a report by the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which he believes backs his party’s long-standing accusations.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, February 13, at a press conference held at BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Fakhrul responded to a question about the UN report. 

He praised the findings, saying, “I would like to thank the UN observation committee... their report has been accurate. They have rightly pointed out that all the killings took place under the orders of one particular fascist, Sheikh Hasina.”

He went on to add, “The genocide occurred at her command, and every human rights violation, everything, took place under her orders. The dismantling of democracy and institutions—all of it happened because of her leadership, and today’s report confirms that.”

Fakhrul also remarked, “It is now proven that Hasina is a fascist, and she has inflicted suffering, torture, and death on the people of this country. The Indian government will return her to the Bangladesh government. She will face justice... as well as her accomplices. This is our expectation.”

The BNP leader expressed a sense of relief about the report‍‍`s publication, saying, “We are relieved that this report has been published... the truth about the events that transpired has now come to light. The issue is that when the UN speaks, everyone believes it. But when political parties like ours speak, many people do not want to believe it.”

‘Aayna Ghor Report—Government Denied It at the Time’

When asked by a journalist about previous reports, Fakhrul also brought up the issue of enforced disappearances and killings, specifically mentioning the Aayna Ghor case. 

He explained, “Enforced disappearances and killings have not been confined to any one party. People in Bangladesh were subjected to enforced disappearances and brutal killings in places like Aayna Ghor.”

He further commented on the government’s denial of such events, saying, “These are things we‍‍`ve been saying from the very beginning. When the report on Aayna Ghor was aired on Al Jazeera, I’m sure you remember. At that time, the government denied it entirely.”

“They claimed that nothing of the sort had happened. But these incidents were happening all along,” Fakhrul concluded.