Fair elections not possible until issues related to AL, Hasina sorted out: Nasiruddin Patwari
Lawyer and rights activist Barrister Sara Hossain calls for abolishing death penalty in Bangladesh
There can be no fair elections in the country until the issues related to Awami League and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina are sorted out, Jatiya Nagorik Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwari said today (23 February).
Speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he also said there can be no fair elections unless the interim government's Advisory Council is "mentally reformed with a revolutionary spirit".
"Those in the Advisory Council have [thick] skin like rhinos. They do the work they were asked to do six months ago. Asif [Nazrul] sir used to talk big in front of the students at the university," he said, alleging that as soon as he came to power, his stance changed.
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He also said, "Those in various positions [of the government] are obliged to perform their duties, there is no room for disobedience. They will not be given the opportunity to try to be part of the next government by compromising with any political party."
The Jatiya Nagorik Committee organised the discussion on the United Nations' fact-finding report on human rights violations during the July uprising published on 12 February.
Speaking on the occasion, lawyer and rights activist Barrister Sara Hossain said some people are purposefully criticising the UN report.
"If Bangladesh abolishes the death penalty, it will receive international support in the trials. I think the death penalty should be abolished. Most of the recommendations in the report are focused on how to ensure justice," she said.
Barrister Rashna Imam said, "The importance of the UN report is due to its impartiality. It will be of great help in the preliminary investigation. But it is not concrete evidence."
Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said, "Political parties of Bangladesh are as indifferent to justice and reforms as they are interested in elections. Our government has not yet been able to talk to India to bring Sheikh Hasina back for trial. To build a beautiful Bangladesh, the Awami League must be tried and banned."
