Law, justice and parliamentary affairs adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said that the people of Bangladesh would decide whether the Awami League should be allowed to contest in the national election.
鈥楾hose who killed hundreds of people, caused another 40,000 to 50,000 to lose their limbs, who are still defending their actions, I don鈥檛 know, if the audio clip [reported leaked clip of Sheikh Hasina] is right, their leader is issuing threats of dire consequences, from a foreign country, to 287 people, I don鈥檛 think the country鈥檚 people will accept [allowing them to participate in polls] before their trial and redemption,鈥� he said.
The adviser was talking to reporters after his meeting with UN high commissioner for human rights Volker T眉rk at the secretariat.
鈥榃hy will they [AL] carry out political activities? If that for killing hundreds of people again? They are still trying to mislead the people, giving threats. I am leaving it to all the sensible people of Bangladesh whether this party should have any political right,鈥� he added.
The adviser also said that UN representative Volker T眉rk was happy to learn the procedures of the International Crimes Tribunal.
Replying to a question on possible UN support for making credible the trial over the genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August student-led uprising at the ICT, he said that the UN was already involved with the legal reform, and if the government needed any institutional support, like forensic, technical support and capacity building, the UN said they would provide those.
鈥榃e will do justice. We are not holding the trial out of the desire for revenge. We would not do injustice. So, we don鈥檛 have anything to hide.鈥�
Asif Nazrul said that the UN official had expressed his support for the interim government, its different works, especially the ongoing reforms, transitional transformation and conveyed his content over those.
鈥楬e [Volker T眉rk] raised most questions regarding the ICT. He wanted to know if there is any scope to abolish death penalty. I said it is not possible in the present reality. The provision of death penalty is there in our penal system, our hundred-year-old justice system. Now there is no question of abolishing this provision, ahead of the trial of the fascists, who have killed hundreds of youths,鈥� he said.
The law adviser further said that he informed the UN delegation about legal changes that the government was bringing to ICT, the changes that were there in the draft, and Volker T眉rk was happy to learn those and thanked him.
鈥榃e are creating opportunities to keep international observers in the court, to appoint foreign lawyers by the accused. The UN official has expressed satisfaction at this,鈥� he added.