Everyone is united on Hasina’s return and trial: Tajnuva Jabeen

Political platform Alternatives organiser Tajnuva Jabeen has said that Bangladesh’s political parties are likely to come together on the issue of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s return to the country, arguing that there is broad political consensus that she must face trial if she returns.

Speaking on a Jamuna TV talk show on Monday, Jabeen said she believed all political parties, including the government, would sit together if any serious issue arose concerning Hasina’s return.

‘When Hasina fled to India, just as BJP and Congress sat at one table there, I believe that all political parties, including the government, will sit together on any serious issue regarding Hasina’s return,’ she said.

Jabeen argued that the political circumstances had not changed sufficiently for people to forget the alleged abuses committed during Hasina’s 17-year rule.

‘After only two years of the mass uprising, no political context has emerged in which any party or ordinary people would forget all the misdeeds, looting, murders, disappearances, Pilkhana murders and Shapla murders of the last 17 years of dictatorship,’ she said.

She added that the July uprising had further strengthened the collective position on the issue.

‘I think everyone is united on the Hasina question. If Hasina returns, she will have to face trial. This is everyone's official statement,’ Jabeen said.

However, she questioned whether Hasina would actually return, describing the statements surrounding her possible return as largely rhetorical.

‘Everyone understands that she does not have the honest courage to return to the country. These are all empty words until now,’ she said.

While dismissing the rhetoric surrounding Hasina’s return as less consequential, Jabeen expressed concern over the country's ongoing law and order situation, saying the government must give priority to public safety.

She cautioned against treating security concerns as merely political posturing, pointing to incidents and threats that have created anxiety among ordinary citizens.

‘It is one thing to laugh off Hasina issues…and another thing to keep the general public safe,’ she said.

‘Cocktail explosions, school bus fires and sabotage threats are creating panic among common people.’

Jabeen stressed that not everyone in the country was equally politically aware or informed, making it particularly important for the government to ensure that ordinary citizens felt secure.

She also recalled the broad-based participation in the July uprising, noting that people from different backgrounds, including those outside formal politics, had joined the movement.

‘It must be remembered that in July there was huge participation by the masses, including non-political people,’ she said.

Jabeen said ensuring public confidence and security was the government's responsibility, particularly at a time when law and order remained fragile across the country.

‘It is the responsibility of the government to make the people feel safe, especially where the law and order situation is quite fragile across the country,’ she said.

News Courtesy:

New Age | Everyone is united on Hasina’s return and trial: Tajnuva Jabeen