National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on Wednesday said the 10-year prison sentence handed to former minister Hasanul Haque Inu was inadequate, expressing hope that a harsher punishment would be imposed through an appeal.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after visiting the mass grave of those killed during the July uprising at Rayerbazar in the capital.
"Inu was one of Sheikh Hasina's close associates. A 10-year sentence is not enough. We expect a stricter punishment through the appeal process," Nahid said.
He also said the investigation and trial of cases related to the July killings were progressing slowly and called for the process to be expedited.
Nahid demanded that those accused of killing Osman Hadi be brought back to Bangladesh, adding that Sheikh Hasina should also be returned to face justice.
He also called for the July Memorial Museum to be opened by August 5.
"If it is not opened by then, the people themselves will open the museum and enter it," he said.
Nahid further said that merely observing the anniversary of the July mass uprising would not be sufficient.
"The July Charter and the referendum verdict must be implemented. The state structure must be reformed," he said.
He added that the government had yet to announce any program to mark the second anniversary of the July uprising but expressed hope that it would do so soon.
Among those present during the visit were NCP Member Secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Southern Chief Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah MP, Northern Chief Coordinator Sarjis Alam, Joint Convener Tariqul Islam, Joint Member Secretaries Abdullah Al Amin, Akram Hussain and Ali Ahsan Junaid, among other party leaders.
