BNP says AL to face trial one day enforced disappearance

Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday warned that Awami League will have to face a trial of international standard someday for making around 500 BNP leaders and activists, including Ilias Ali, disappeared.

‘Our about 500 leaders and activists have been made disappeared. We’ll hold trial of international standard of the incidents of killing and enforced disappearances took place during the Awami League regime. The world’s noted jurists and judges will be engaged with the trial,’ he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, ‘We won’t do any injustice to them (AL), as the trial will be transparent, and they’ll be punished as per international rules.’

Swadhinata Forum, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporter’s Unity, demanding safe return of BNP leader M Ilias Ali who was made disappeared five years back.

Referring to a recent report aired by a Swedish Radio, Khasru said the Swedish prime minister and foreign minister demanded the trial of the incidents after fair investigations following the report.

He said the European Parliament and many hum rights bodies have long been demanding the trial of the enforced disappearances. ‘We must take preparation to hold the trial both at home and at international level to get rid of it.’

Khasru, a BNP standing committee member, urged the government to take steps for the safe return of Ilias Ali and other disappeared BNP leaders and activists.

He said Awami League has now become so much desperate that it is now establishing relation with Hefajat-e-Islam. ‘Players start committing so many fouls when they see their team is on the verge of defeat. Even, they make suicidal shots out of desperation. Awami League’s condition is now like that.’

Source: New Age