NCP leaders say Dhaka-Delhi ties hinge on sending Hasina back, press for quick execution of verdict

Reacting to Sheikh Hasina's death sentence, NCP leaders asserted that Dhaka–Delhi ties rest on India sending Hasina back to Bangladesh, as they pressed the government for quick execution of the verdict.

"Bangladesh's relations with India will never be normal unless New Delhi facilitates Sheikh Hasina's return to the country," NCP chief organiser (north) Sarjis Alam told media in an instant reaction to the verdict announced by the International Crimes Tribunal today (17 November).

Meanwhile, NCP's member secretary Akhtar Hossain said, "Death penalty is the appropriate punishment for Sheikh Hasina."

He also called for the quick execution of the verdict.

"We urge the government to execute today's verdict as soon as possible," Akhter said in a statement.

He also urged the Indian government to extradite Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile, to face the Bangladeshi justice system instead of affording her shelter.

Akhtar said today's verdict proved that Hasina was responsible for directly ordering the use of lethal force, including shooting and killing people, deploying the army against citizens, and burning people to death. 

He expressed the party's desire for further accountability, looking forward to the time when all remaining charges are brought to trial and all those responsible for "mass killing" are punished. 

The NCP leader emphasised that the verdict's execution would not only grant peace to the "souls of the martyrs" but also establish a critical precedent against future atrocities by any ruler or group.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during last year's July Uprising.

The third accused in the case, former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, was spared the death penalty and sentenced to five years in jail owing to his becoming a state witness.