National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam today said ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina should return to Bangladesh so that her death sentence can be carried out.
“Today, we saw an interview in which someone said there is a plan to return to the country in December. The country has already suffered 16 years of destruction. We, too, want her to return, but for the execution of the death sentence,” he said.
Nahid made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and award-giving ceremony organised by the National SME Foundation at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka.
He said a verdict had already been delivered in Bangladesh and that the government should bring the “genocide perpetrator” back through proper diplomatic and legal channels to execute the verdict.
Nahid also said the Bangladesh government must decide how Sheikh Hasina would return and whether she would surrender.
“The Bangladesh government will talk to Delhi on this matter. There is no other party here. The government will decide when to bring her back, how to bring her back, and how to execute the verdict,” he said.
Asked about the trial of the Awami League, Nahid said the government was also considering putting the party on trial as an organisation.
“We think this is the right path. Sheikh Hasina’s verdict has already been delivered. Now it must be executed,” he said.
He said the government’s budget speech will remain mere words unless the July Charter, referendum and reforms are implemented.
“The present government made many commitments in the budget on SMEs, economic democratisation and job creation. It has set a target of creating one crore jobs in 18 months, but we have not seen any update on this in four months,” he said.
Nahid said the July Charter has a direct link with economic transformation, adding that the economic structure cannot be changed without political reform and the rebuilding of institutions.
“Otherwise, this economy will remain the same old oligarchic system, where no opportunities are created for young entrepreneurs or job seekers,” he said.
