National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen has commented that “there is absolutely no way to grant the Awami League immunity from cases in this Bangladesh, a party which the people of Bangladesh have not forgiven.”
He stated that calling for the wholesale withdrawal of cases against them is equivalent to granting them impunity. He said, “The Awami League can only get immunity through the process of justice. The Awami League must face trial. No political party or leader has the responsibility or authority to grant them exemption from cases.”
He made these remarks on Wednesday evening while talking to journalists before addressing a courtyard meeting at the house of Golzar Member in the Madamadan area of Sarai Union, Kaunia, Rangpur. He was responding to a question about the recent statement made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Thakurgaon regarding “Awami League’s cases.”
Akhter said, “Awami League leaders and activists have perpetrated brutal torture on the people of Bangladesh. They have committed genocide against the people of Bangladesh, which is why these cases have been filed against them. The Awami League can only be absolved through the judicial process. The Awami League must face trial. The leaders and activists of the Awami League who have committed acts of terror must be held accountable before the law. The way the Awami League used to file wholesale cases against ordinary people, jailing them even without any wrongdoing, we do not want that.”
Akhtar went on to add, “We believe that those within the Awami League who are terrorists, who have murdered people, who have been involved in enforced disappearances – all those connected to these crimes – must be brought under the scope of justice. There is no opportunity to free them from trial or grant them immunity from cases.”
Regarding the Awami League’s scheduled lockdown program on 13 November 13, Akhter said, “Since 5 August of ’24, the Awami League has gone mad. They have disappeared and killed countless people. They have committed torture and oppression, and they have not been able to break free from this chain. They still show no remorse. Rather, they are devising plans on how to carry out sabotage in Bangladesh with India’s assistance. From abroad, they are setting fire to various establishments in Bangladesh. They are committing arson. They are burning people to death. They are setting buses on fire. They are setting off cocktail explosions in various places. They think that through these acts, they can reclaim their fallen empire.”
Akhter said, “But the reality is that the people of Bangladesh will no longer tolerate the terrorism of the Awami League. We, the National Citizen Party, firmly state that just as we defeated the Awami League on 5 August with the people of Bangladesh, we are equally prepared to confront the Awami League in the days to come.”
Akhter Hossen arrived in Rangpur on Monday evening on a three-day visit. During this time, he held courtyard meetings, views-exchange meetings, and public engagements in various areas of his electoral constituency, Pirgachha, and Kaunia. He is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Thursday morning.
