Decision on Awami League must be made through trial: Nahid

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has called for the Awami League to be held accountable through proper judicial proceedings. Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday at the International Crimes Tribunal premises, he said, “The Awami League must be brought under trial collectively. Their decisions should be scrutinized in court.”

On the same day, Nahid was cross-examined as witness number 47 by state-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

“Narrow measures, such as banning the Awami League by executive order, are not a permanent solution,” Nahid said. “Political and legal resolutions can only be achieved by bringing the Awami League and its fascist accomplices under judicial scrutiny. These are organized crimes, not isolated acts. We will appeal to the Tribunal, which now has sufficient evidence. Sheikh Hasina, as party leader, took decisions to kill citizens to maintain absolute power, but the people resisted and overthrew her. Politically, these are crimes committed by the Awami League, and the party must be brought under trial without delay.”

During the cross-examination, Amir Hossain asked whether Nahid had filed a case regarding alleged abuses against him on August 5 last year. Nahid responded that the injustices against him should be seen as crimes against the broader public. “I did not consider these acts as personal attacks, so I filed no individual case. However, I have lodged a separate complaint with the enforced disappearance commission regarding missing persons,” he said.

Nahid’s questioning continued for the second day after 11am at the Tribunal. Following the session, he spoke to journalists in a press briefing. He had also appeared as witness number 47 on September 18 for the second day of testimony.