BNP should be tried for crimes against humanity

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said BNP should be tried for crimes against humanity, as the party has been committing such crimes continuously since its inception.

"There is no heinous crime that BNP did not commit, including promulgation of indemnity act to stop the trial of killers of Bangabandhu and jail killing, grenade attacks and killing people by carrying out arson attacks," he said while addressing the biennial council of AL's Adamdighi upazila unit in Bogura, joining through videoconference from his official residence on parliament premises in Dhaka.

Terming BNP the "creator of cliques of goons" in the country, Quader said BNP's history is the history of conspiracy, killing of people and militancy. He said there is no democracy inside BNP, but they always talk about democracy.

Turning to his own party, the AL general secretary said there could be competition of leadership in a big party, but this competition must be through maintaining organisational discipline and regulation. He urged party leaders and workers to refrain from anything that tarnishes the image of the party.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very strict about discipline, he said, adding that if anyone violates organisational discipline, the party will not spare them. Dedicated workers of AL who stayed with the party in its crisis must be evaluated in the committees of the party; while extortionists, corrupt people and wrongdoers will not be given any space, he said.