Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday told Parliament that she was “satisfied” with the verdict in the war crimes case against former Jamaat chief, Prof. Ghulam Azam.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) on Monday sentenced Ghulam Azam to 90 years in prison for his involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. “The ICT found Ghulam Azam, along with the Jamaat-Shibir group, guilty of war crimes. We’re satisfied with the punishment meted out to the Jamaat leader. But it’s for the court to decide which judgement they would deliver against someone,” Hasina said.
The verdict has already generated a widespread debate, with some rejecting it as “inadequate” and others terming it “unfair”.
“We’re happy that Ghulam Azam, as a war criminal, got his punishment. The verdict is the outcome of a long wait and protracted struggle,” Hasina maintained.
“We hope to start execution of the verdict within our current tenure,” she added. The Prime Minister was delivering her valedictory speech at the 18th session of the 9th Jatiya Sangsad.
Hasina praised the judges for their steadfastness and courage, amid tremendous national and international pressure, in delivering the verdict. “It’s the biggest achievement of our nation,” she added.
Criticising the Opposition’s absence in the House, Hasina said the BNP’s patronisation of war criminals was reflected through its open support to the Jamaat hartal on Monday and Tuesday.
Hasina urged people to remain alert against war criminals and their cohorts. She alleged that the Opposition had skipped the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) session to help Tuesday’s hartal. For this, the countrymen will hate them, she added.
Extending her thanks to the Opposition for joining the budget session of Parliament, Hasina said though Opposition members had taken part in the discussion, many of them used “vulgar'” and “derogatory” language, thereby tarnishing the image of the JS.
The Prime Minister claimed that her government has always honoured democracy. “It’s our aim to uphold democracy and run the country as per the Constitution,” she added.
“We’ve tried our best to take action against any untoward incident. We’ve even arrested 600 BCL leaders and workers. We’ve never indulged in criminal activities and will not do so in future,” she claimed. She said every accused in the Biswajit murder case have been arrested. “The trial has started. We’re taking action against the culprits. I don’t know whether any party took such action in the past,” she added.
Hasina said the Hallmark scam came out of Hawa Bhaban. “The corruption in the Hallmark scam had continued for a long time. We were able to detect it,” she added.
She recalled that before the 1996 general election, Begum Khaleda Zia had said that prayer calls would be stopped and ulu sounds would be heard from mosques if the Awami League came to power. “Such things didn’t happen. The AL has developed mosques and madrasas,” she said.
Hasina said Bangladesh has secured the top position in the hajj management in Asia. She also said that a religious affairs minister had embezzled the hajj money during the BNP rule.
Hasina highlighted some of the major achievements of her government in various fields like agriculture, education, health, power, women empowerment and social safety net.
Criticising Allama Sahfi’s recent remark on women, the Prime Minister said: “The Awami League (AL) is a servant of Islam. Bangabandhu had established the Islamic Foundation. Our lawmakers, ministers, leaders and activists are more pious than the BNP’s MPs, leaders and activists.” “Bibi Khadiza, wife of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH), was the first woman to have accepted Islam. Khadiza was a business woman who helped her husband financially to preach Islam,” said Hasina.
She called upon the Opposition leader to discard Hefazat and work for the development of the country’s women.
Hasina said the countrymen are reaping the benefits of the digital system. “People can now pay their bills and taxes through the digital system,” she added.
“Hawa Bhaban was the centre of corruption during the BNP-led government’s regime. Khaleda Zia and her ministers had whitened their black money by paying fines to the National Board of Revenue (NBR),” the Prime Minister alleged.
Dandy Dying and Khamba Ltd had looted crores of taka and owe banks Tk. 980 crore, Hasina said. “The corruption of Khaleda Zia’s sons has been proven in foreign courts. We’ll bring back the money they laundered.”
-With The Independent input
