BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has called for a neutral and effective trial of the 1971 Liberation War atrocities under the same legal framework that has recently been used to suspend the ruling Awami League's activities and initiate genocide proceedings.
In a Facebook post published on Saturday, Ishraque said that the crimes committed during 1971 — including genocide, rape, and looting — were "far more horrific and brutal," and should have been tried impartially.
He alleged that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina later politicized the war crimes trials to suppress political opposition.
"If the martyrs and rape victims of 1971 had received justice through an impartial process, the nation would not be so divided today," he wrote.
Referring to individuals who continue to justify collaboration with the Pakistani army during the war, Ishraque expressed frustration: "It is truly unfortunate that even today, some shamelessly claim that siding with the Pakistani forces to commit killings and rapes was the right decision."
He added, "Allah will ensure justice — if not in this world, then surely in the hereafter."
Rejecting foreign domination, Ishraque said, "We will not bow to the subjugation of Rawalpindi, nor to the influence of Delhi, Washington, Moscow, or Beijing." He criticized opportunists who, according to him, exploit political situations for personal gain, calling it a "naked and shameful reality."
The BNP leader warned that internal division within a nation creates opportunities for foreign interference. “We could have avoided this division for a hundred years if we, as a nation, had been able to set our priorities right,” he added.
In a veiled criticism of new political parties and their perceived alignment with ruling-party tactics, Ishraque said, “The younger and older sibling parties are walking the same path of credit-grabbing politics pioneered by the Awami League.”
He also alleged that a large-scale public movement once forced Sheikh Hasina to flee, but its momentum was later weakened by a group of coordinators, advisers, and leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) who, he claimed, started “selling out” the sacrifices of the protesters.
“Sheikh Hasina herself is a perfect example of what happens when such betrayals occur,” he added.
MN/SMS
