The Network for Democratic Bangladesh, an international activist group of expatriate Bangladeshis, on Sunday urged the interim government to prosecute deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others on charge of crimes against humanity, including repression, enforced disappearance and killing.
The platform also called for stronger diplomatic efforts with countries, including India, to extradite individuals accused of crimes against humanity, including Hasina, who allegedly went into hiding.
At a virtual press conference, network members鈥攚ho actively participated in the student-led mass uprising鈥攕tressed the need for the repatriation of fugitives and urged the government to seek international cooperation, if necessary, to achieve this.
Citing the recent fact-finding report of the United Nations, the network demanded the disbandment of the Rapid Action Battalion and the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, the restriction of border guards鈥� duty solely to border protection, and the limitation of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence鈥檚 powers strictly within the bounds of the law.
The UN report specifically names the DGFI, the National Security Intelligence, the NTMC, as well as the Police Intelligence Branch and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, as being directly involved in human rights violations under the pretext of suppressing protesters.
鈥楾he report has made it explicitly clear that these forces operated torture cells, infamously known as 鈥楢ynaghor,鈥� during the Awami League regime, and were involved in enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing,鈥� the network said.
It urged the government to publish a white paper disclosing the names and activities of the accused officials within these forces and hold them accountable under the law.
Writer and professor of Integrative/Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley State University in the United States Azfar Hussain, along with writer and activist Barnali Saha from Australia, delivered the written speech at the press conference.
Writer and activist Anupam Shaikat and researcher Nasrin Khandoker, among others, attended the press conference.
Azfar Hussain said that at a critical moment, a non-partisan interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, took charge of the nation. Unlike previous caretaker administrations, its mandate鈥攕temming from the uprising鈥攚as not just to organise elections, but to fulfill three key responsibilities before transferring power through elections.
The government鈥檚 priorities are to support victim families and rehabilitate the injured from the uprising, conduct impartial investigations and trials for crimes committed during the uprising and the 16-year fascist rule, and restore law and order by removing corrupt elements from security forces and state institutions, while initiating reforms to uphold democracy and justice, he said.
Azfar said that although the fascist ruler has fallen, the system has not been completely dismantled, with individuals complicit in human rights violations and corruption still within law enforcement and administration.
Holding them accountable through legal action is a crucial responsibility of the interim government, he said.
The network urged the Indian government to stop offering refuge to Hasina, accused of crimes against humanity, and called for her extradition to Bangladesh.
It also demanded that India prevent her from using its territory for conspiracies or anti-Bangladesh activities.
The platform called on India鈥檚 progressive political and cultural organisations, people鈥檚 movements and intellectuals to pressure the government to end its protection of Hasina, a fascist ruler responsible for atrocities, including the killing of students and children.
The organisation urged solidarity with the people of Bangladesh in their fight for democracy, justice, and human rights.
