Fakhrul demands Hasina's toughest punishment

Dhaka, Aug. 22 -- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday accused deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of committing cri...

Dhaka, Aug. 22 -- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday accused deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of committing crimes against humanity by carrying out enforced disappearances and demanded her highest punishment.

Speaking at a human chain and photo exhibition event organised by 'Mayer Dak' at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, he also said the interim government has completely failed to bring the incidents of enforced disappearances before the public and stop the cries of the victims' families.

"I expect the government to make every effort to reveal full information about the children who lost their fathers, the sisters who lost their brothers, and the mothers who lost their sons. Whoever may be responsible, no matter how powerful they are, nothing can be more dreadful than this crime against humanity," Fakhrul said.

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He said everyone knows that enforced disappearance is a serious crime against humanity and the punishment for such a crime is the death penalty.

"It has now been proved that Hasina is responsible for these killings and disappearances. Her trial must take place in this country and she must be given the toughest punishment," the BNP leader said.

He urged the families of the victims not to lose hope, saying people's movements never fail and never failed in the past either, as proven by last year's mass uprising.

Fakhrul said the young generation and even the children will one day see justice for the wrongs done to their fathers and brothers.

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On behalf of his party, he reaffirmed that BNP has always stood by the victims, remains with them now, and will continue to stay with them until justice is finally ensured.

The BNP secretary general also thanked the UN Human Rights Commission for giving full cooperation in investigating the incidents of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.

He, however, lamented that the interim government has failed to take the necessary steps to strengthen the commission on enforced disappearances and bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to justice.

"The interim government has completely failed to place the disappearance commission before the public and hold hearings. They have also failed to ease the pains and stop the tears of mothers, brothers and other relatives of the victims. They must be held accountable," Fakhrul said.

He said their demand has always been that these incidents must be tried and assured that BNP will continue to stand by the children who lost their fathers.

He said BNP's demand has always been that these incidents must be brought to justice.

The BNP leader turned emotional while describing the sufferings of the victims' families, including the cries of the children for their missing fathers.

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"Many were picked up during our movements. In some cases, even seven members of a single family, were made to disappear. Seeing the children who lost their parents breaks my heart, because I knew them when they were very young. Now they have grown up without their loved ones," said a weeping Fakhrul.

He pledged BNP's full support to the victims' families, saying, "From day one, we have stood by the families of the disappeared. We will remain with them until justice is delivered."

Fakhrul said BNP wants elections to ensure justice for these crimes and to speed up the trial process. "Enforced disappearances were never part of our history. For the first time, this monstrous Hasina regime used state machinery to carry them out."