The main opposition BNP still shirks from making any comment on the Pakistan’s resolution over war criminal Quader Molla’s execution.
On December 16, the Pakistan parliament adopted a resolution, expressing concern over the execution of Quader Molla who was hanged at 10:01pm on December 12 for his crimes against humanity in 1971.
On Sunday, during a press conference, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan was asked about his party’s stance on the resolution.
Avoiding the query, Nazrul rather questioned: “Does the government not have [diplomatic] ties with Pakistan? If not, it should make matters clear.”
Following the Pakistan resolution, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Pakistan’s envoy to Dhaka to register its protest.
Protesting the resolution, Ganajagaran Mancha activists marched towards the Pakistan High Commission on December 18.
They also demanded cancellation of any diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
BNP leader Nazrul also reacted to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks that the BNP chief had remained silent on the resolution for her alleged ties with Pakistan.
“[Diplomatic] relations cannot be between an individual and a state, rather between states,” the BNP leader said.
Hasina on Saturday said Khaleda did not feel good with the victory of Bangalees and for this she was remaining silent about the resolution adopted on December 16. It might have grieved her to speak against Pakistan.
War criminal Quader Molla was handed life imprisonment on February 5, triggering a countrywide protest and the formation of the Ganajagaran Mancha. The government later amended the International Crimes Tribunal acts (1973) that paved the way for an appeal against the Molla verdict.
The Supreme Court handed the war criminal death sentence upon the International Crimes Tribunal appeal.
Molla, scheduled to be executed on December 10, applied to file a review petition hours before his hanging. On December 12, the Supreme Court dismissed his application.
About the prime minister’s statement that the BNP should cut off relations with the Jamaat-e-Islami, Nazrul said: “Is it the government that should decide which party to remain in politics and which not? People will take the decision.”
Asked whether BNP would tone down its ongoing protest because of Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally on December 24, Nazrul said: “Hefazat-e-Islam is not a political party. It is an organisation.”
“There has yet to be any decision on whether to let up blockade or not.”