Says Hasina in Al Jazeera documentary
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has denied the opposition’s allegation that the trial of war criminals is an act of revenge, insisting that it is rather the due course of law.
“Sometimes you can hear the hue and cry from many quarters that you are taking revenge on the opposition and this and that. It is not true,” she told legendary British journalist David Frost when he met her in Dhaka in June this year.
When Frost pointed out her opponent’s claim that the war crimes trial is flawed and just for show, the premier said, “I don’t know why these people are opposing it.”
Frost conducted the interview as part of a documentary that was aired on Al Jazeera early yesterday. Hasina also discussed with him the upcoming general elections and the rift between Awami League and BNP.
The documentary covers a range of issues, including Bangladesh’s independence and the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Asked whether she had forgiven those involved in genocide in 1971, Hasina said, “They killed our people, they raped our women, they tortured, especially those who were Bengali. They are war criminals, killers. So, they should get punished.”
When Frost referred to the criticism that those who were condemned to death are senior leaders of opposition parties, the PM said, “Law will take its own course. Those who lost their family members, it is their demand that these criminals should be punished.”
She maintained that the trial was one of the key election pledges of Awami League. “If you don’t try these people, you cannot move forward, because it is just like a curse to the nation.”
To a question from Frost, who died later on August 31, Hasina observed that whether she would win the next general elections was up to the people. “If they are satisfied, if they vote for me, I’ll come.”
Hasina insisted that she wanted to ensure the voting and constitutional rights of people, saying, “They get all the chance to vote freely and fairly and choose their own government.”
Referring to the last face-to-face conversation between Hasina and her rival Khaleda Zia years ago, Frost asked if she could ever work with Khaleda seriously again, or if the rift was just too wide.
To this Hasina said, “We have ideological differences.”
Claiming that her party had been established to ensure people’s rights and that they believed in democracy, she said there were killings, conspiracies and manipulation every time there was a local election or by-election in BNP’s term. “So, there is a basic difference.”
Asked who were to blame for disasters like the Rana Plaza building collapse, the PM said the responsibility to ensure safety lies with everybody.
If the buyers pay more, owners of garment factories could house their units in better buildings, she said, terming the disaster a “wake up call for everyone”.
-With The Daily Star input
