BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has demanded accountability for the "harassment" of party leaders and activists through politically motivated cases during the Awami League`s 15 years in power, asking who will compensate them for their ordeals.
He made the remarks on Sunday in an immediate reaction after being acquitted in a case filed under the Special Powers Act over an alleged “conspiracy” during the student-led Road Safety Movement protests in 2018, reports bdnews24.com.
Judge Md Jannatul Ferdous Ibne Haque of Dhaka’s Special Tribunal-14 cleared Khosru and four others in the case filed at Shahbagh Police Station.
“There are 42 cases against me. For years, we had to spend two days a week just attending court. I don`t know how long it will take to get out of all these cases. Today one case was disposed of. There are many more pending," Khosru said.
“Not just me -- over six million BNP leaders and activists were harassed through false cases. They were imprisoned, abducted, and killed. They were forced to leave their homes, resign from their jobs, shut down businesses.”
The senior party leader continued, “What will happen to these people? Who will compensate them? Will the state pay compensation? I don`t hear anyone talking about them. Those who laid the foundation for the democratic movement against autocracy over the past 15 years -- what about them? I don`t see anyone paying attention to their plight.”
Drawing deeper attention to the matter, he said: “Those who led the movement to this point, who toppled autocratic rule, who made sacrifices over the past 15-16 years, losing everything -- no compensation plan is being discussed for them. I think it’s something we all need to think about.”
When asked what kind of judiciary he envisions, Khosru said: “A free judiciary, an independent judiciary -- that’s what we have been fighting for over the past 15-16 years. Under the name of justice, millions of people have been devastated, lost their lives, died in prison due to lack of treatment, or died in police custody. Who will compensate for that? Without an independent judiciary, democracy cannot survive.”
Asked about the formation of an independent secretariat for the judiciary, he replied: “That has always been our proposal. If it is not implemented now, we will certainly implement it when we come to power. Absolutely, we will.”
