Is the Awami League facing unjust charges from an illegitimate government?

Dhaka, Aug 3 (NationPress) The Bangladesh Awami League vehemently condemned the allegations against its leadership on Sunday, branding them as a politically charged action orchestrated by the illegitimate interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Awami League representative Mohammad A. Arafat emphasized that neither former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina nor he has received any official notification regarding the trial proceedings against party members, underscoring the absurdity of an unelected government.

"This is part of a larger scheme by an unelected usurper leading an illegitimate administration, aimed at erasing democratic credibility, silencing dissent, and retaining power. Such a regime lacks both legal and moral authority to prosecute a government chosen by the people's mandate. Only Parliament holds the power to amend legislation enacted by it," Arafat stated.

This statement follows a Bangladeshi court's decision on July 31 to file charges against Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and several others connected to six cases involving alleged corruption related to the Purbachal New Town project. The court also issued arrest warrants for them and scheduled August 13 to record testimonies from prosecution witnesses.

Arafat characterized the events of July last year as tragic and chaotic, noting that law enforcement responded to rising mob violence with the tools at hand.

"By that time, the elected government had essentially collapsed. To imply that Sheikh Hasina was making real-time tactical decisions is ludicrous," he asserted.

He stated that no democratically elected leader should face prosecution for fulfilling constitutional duties amidst violent insurrection.

Arafat dismissed the charges of abetting, inciting, and complicity as unfounded, claiming they were based on testimony from compromised individuals and unverified audio recordings.

The Awami League leader mentioned that the Hasina government had initiated an independent investigation to uncover the causes of the criminal acts, but this inquiry was subsequently dismantled by the current regime.

He asserted that this is not the only investigation that the Yunus administration has disregarded. "During the 1971 War of Independence, collaborators committed heinous acts: mass killings, rape, arson, and looting. The International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973 was established by Parliament to prosecute these offenses. However, the interim government has stalled these trials and is instead utilizing powers outside its jurisdiction to fabricate and politically motivated cases against its adversaries," he stated.

Arafat noted that the Tribunal's rejection of defense submissions and its expedited indictments reveal this process as a political show trial. He described the amendments to the ICT Act, which he claims are politically charged, as an abuse of power intended to target a specific political party and undermine democratic rights.

"Even issuing contempt rulings based on unverifiable audio recordings demonstrates how the judicial process is being weaponized against the Prime Minister," he remarked.

Arafat asserted that it was Sheikh Hasina who initiated the prosecution of war criminals; however, those who once supported these criminals are now leading the tribunals.

"This clear conflict of interest renders a fair trial impossible. This is an assault on Bangladesh's democratic institutions. The interim regime has banned our party, silenced millions, and violated due process to solidify its grip on power. Its agenda is evident: to eliminate dissent and remove the Awami League from the political scene," he added.

Arafat urged the international community to recognize the Tribunal as a mechanism to criminalize political opposition and distort lawful governance as criminality.

The party leader also welcomed an impartial, international investigation into all acts of violence before, during, and after July 2024, including "ongoing political killings overlooked by this regime."

"Justice must never be selective. History will judge those who dismantle democracy in the name of law," he concluded.