'Under the law enacted by her father, Hasina is a fugitive criminal convicted of crimes against humanity,' Rizvi said
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has described ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina as a fugitive convicted of crimes against humanity, saying she must serve the sentences handed down to her by the International Crimes Tribunal.
“Under the 1973 law enacted by her father, Sheikh Hasina is a fugitive criminal against humanity. She must serve the sentence handed down to her under the law,” Rizvi said on Saturday.
He added that Hasina must face punishment for killing people, including students, and that she must serve all sentences handed down in cases against her.
Rizvi made the remarks in a brief speech following a protest procession organised by the Dhaka South unit of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal in the capital around noon. The procession began in front of the National Press Club and ended at Shahbagh.
Jubo Dal organised the programme to protest arson attacks and crude bomb explosions allegedly carried out by the banned Awami League and its student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League. Leaders and activists of the party's central and metropolitan units joined the procession.
Addressing Hasina, Rizvi said BNP leaders and activists had continued their political struggle despite enforced disappearances and killings during her rule.
“Even in the face of enforced disappearances and killings, they fought with courage. They are not afraid, and they have not bowed their heads,” he said.
Describing the protest as a stand against injustice and authoritarianism, Rizvi said BNP leaders and activists would continue resisting any attempt to restore what he called fascist rule.
Referring to Hasina's reported plan to return to Bangladesh in December, he warned that people would build barricades on roads and at major intersections across the country to prevent her return.
He said nationalist political forces would remain active to resist any attempt to revive the political aspirations of the Awami League.
Hasina has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, amid the mass uprising. She was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
Reports have said she has sought a new passport and national identity card through the Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi as part of preparations for a possible return in December. The government has said it would not issue the requested documents, adding that she could return through extradition and face the legal consequences of her conviction.
Remarks on Awami League leaders
Rizvi also criticised Awami League leaders living abroad while their grassroots activists allegedly engage in violence at home.
He claimed that some senior leaders were moving between Kolkata, Thailand and Malaysia, while others were staying in Singapore. Meanwhile, grassroots activists in Bangladesh were allegedly being supplied with bombs to carry out attacks.
“BNP, Jubo Dal and leaders and activists of our associate organisations are not afraid of these fireworks,” he said.
The procession comes amid a series of crude bomb explosions and arson attacks, including incidents targeting public transport. The BNP and the government have blamed the banned Awami League and its affiliates for the incidents.