This is in reference to the story, “International community urged to stop ‘summary executions’ in Bangladesh” Oct. 31). The points raised in an interview with Barrister Toby Cadman highlighted the grave situation involving judiciary in Bangladesh.
Whenever Awami League comes to power it uses all the legal, illegal means to arraign the members of the opposition, mainly Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP. The party, under the aegis of Prime Minister Hasina Wajid, influences judiciary to work against the top opposition leaders. This is against international standards and norms, and is against the principles of democracy.
By doing so, the Awami League is setting precedents to find ways to punish those who are in opposition even if they are not at fault. They should take a lesson from India. Do they ever see Congress or any other political party taking such measures of revenge on the opposition?
The trials against opposition leaders on allegations that they were behind the atrocities during 1971 liberation struggle are all politically motivated. It is nothing but attempts to defame the opposition and to continue clinging to power, which is disgraceful. It is time for the world community especially OIC to hold an internal conference to reconcile the two rival groups and pressurize the government to conduct just and transparent trials.
The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal is short of international standards that violate norms of fair trials inscribed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Instead of the “summary executions” of the jailed opposition but highly respected leaders. — Rashid Mahmoud, Jeddah
