There will not be any reconciliation until deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her "blood-thirsty" party members are tried for murders and corruption, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today.
"No amount of lobbying will help Hasina and her brutal associates. The world has moved on. Her world has shrunk to a couple of small rooms in New Delhi," Alam said in a Facebook post from his verified account, noting that exactly five months ago Hasina fled Bangladesh to India.
The press secretary said the longer Awami League activists cling on to "Hasina's Sareer Anchol", the bigger the grave they will dig for the party.
He said the Awami League still has some hope to return to the political arena. "But first they have to denounce Hasina for the massacres and enforced disappearances and looting."
Alam said some people talk about truth and reconciliation and they too believe in the power of reconciliation and healing.
"But can you do it with a party whose members are still in denial? Five months have passed and there is no apology, no remorse and no acknowledgement from Hasina, her Sheikh clan or her party members. Instead, they were spinning lies. They also spent millions to sell their lies and false and fabricated news to the Indian media," said the press secretary.
Alam said the students and millions of July uprising protesters have thrown Hasina and her "Sheikh Clan" into the dustbin of history. "Now it is ordinary AL supporters turn to distance themselves from one of history's most corrupt and blood-thirsty dictators!!"
Alam said August 5 brought an end to her nearly 16 years long "brutal and corrupt directorship" and millions of people led by some of the "bravest students" held protests for weeks forcing the 77-year leader to quit power.
He said an Interim Government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus took over after she fled. "The IG has brought peace and stability in the country. Law and order situation has stabilised."
Alam said a certain economic collapse and a state bankruptcy were averted. Exports grew at a hefty rate in the past five months. Imports made a massive comeback, highlighting growing domestic consumption.
He said a revamped and globally acceptable International Crimes Tribunal has been engaged to try Hasina and her blood-soaked associates.
"Scores of AL politicians with blood in their hands were arrested. Hundreds more are on the run. The IG has sent a note verbale to India for the repatriation of Hasina. We haven't heard anything from India officially yet," he said.
"But we will be relentless in our efforts to bring her back to Bangladesh to face justice and accountability over the murders of some 1,500 students, workers and other people during the July uprising," said the Press Secretary.
Alam said Hasina and her murderous associates will also be tried for other massacres and thousands of enforced disappearances, laundering of nearly 240 billion dollars, robberies of banks and extrajudicial murders of thousands of people.
The trial of Hasina, the AL politicians and officials and officers who were involved in murders and corruption are a key priority of the IG, Alam said.
"We have already banned the Chhatra League over charges of murders. Hasina continues to tell lies from her hideout. Her supporters are still suffering from delusions. One thing we can say for sure: we will pursue Hasina the way she pursued the killers of her family. It will be relentless. There won't be any slackening of our efforts," he mentioned.
