Yunus was offered role of new govt head on 4 Aug last year: Nahid testifies at ICT
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August last year after serving over 15 consecutive years as prime minister, as her government was ousted from power.
Highlights:
- NCP Convener Nahid Islam testifies at International Crimes Tribunal in case against Hasina, others
- Nahid says movement coordinators talked with Yunus on 4 August and offered him role of new head of govt
- Former info adivser Nahid urges ICT to deliver justice to victims and hold Hasina, others accountable
- On media, Nahid says reforms have not happened as expected and that the media remains controlled
Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and one of the key faces of the July Uprising, has testified at the International Crimes Tribunal that movement coordinators held talks with Muhammad Yunus on 4 August last year as part of preparations for forming a new government and offered him the role of the new head of government.
Nahid gave this testimony today (18 September), on the second day of his deposition as the 47th witness, before the tribunal led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, in a case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others for crimes against humanity alleged to have occurred during the July Uprising.
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Notably, Hasina fled to India on 5 August last year after serving over 15 consecutive years as prime minister, as her government was ousted from power.
Details
According to his account at the tribunal, following a previously announced programme, students and the public held sit-ins and demonstrations at Shahbagh on 4 August last year and on that day announced a "March to Dhaka" for 6 August.
However, he said a country-wide curfew and mass killings on that day forced them to reschedule.
Nahid said they came to know that the government had prepared measures to sabotage the 6 August march, including shutting down mobile phone networks and the internet, and that they risked being killed or disappeared.
For that reason, they advanced the "March to Dhaka" to 5 August, he explained.
He added that coordinator Mahfuj Alam liaised with student groups and civil society to make the 5 August march successful.
Nahid told the ICT that, as part of preparations for forming a new government, they held a discussion with Muhammad Yunus on 4 August and offered him the responsibility of serving as the new head of government.
After his testimony, Nahid told reporters that he has urged the ICT to deliver justice to the victims, saying he holds Hasina, the erstwhile home minister and heads of law enforcement agencies responsible.
He added that those who took part directly in killings should be identified and severely punished, a demand he said he put before the tribunal.
Nahid Islam had earlier given a partial deposition yesterday.
'Media reform did not happen as expected'
In response to journalists' questions about media control, Nahid said, "During different stages of the July Uprising, the media played various roles. I specifically mentioned 18/19 July (2024). At times, some newspapers and a few electronic media outlets, as well as many journalists, tried to take a stand in favour of the movement. As a result, while some stood with fascism, others took a stand against it."
"But the reforms we had expected in the media – even though I myself was in charge [ as information adviser] at one stage – have not taken place. I believe the media is still controlled," he added.
Nahid continued, "The DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) used to control the media and dictate certain news items before, and that practice still continues. Political parties exert control, as do various corporate entities. During the period when I held responsibility, I formed a Media Reform Commission on my part."
The former information adviser explained that the commission members were tasked with proposing reforms and implementing them through the government.
"Regarding the cases filed against journalists, the information ministry formed a committee to review them. The law ministry also made recommendations, while the rest of the responsibility lay with the law and home ministries. Those media personnel who acted as accomplices of fascism were also supposed to be brought to trial."
After the fall of the Awami League government, Nahid was appointed information adviser in the interim government. Later, he resigned and led the formation of the NCP, taking charge as its convener.
