Tuesday, 14 October, 2025
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said that “impartial and transparent” trials are essential to uphold the professionalism and honour of the Army, particularly in cases involving personnel accused of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the previous Awami League government.
In a statement issued Friday night and signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the BNP said: “Every member of the Army is a proud son of this nation. We believe most officers themselves want those who exceeded their authority to face justice—so that no future government can again issue unlawful orders for disappearances or killings.”
“The BNP fully supports this universal aspiration for justice and accountability,” the statement added.
The remark comes after the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday issued arrest warrants in three cases against 32 individuals, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Among them, 25 are current or former Army officers.
“Every member of the army is a proud son of this country and its soil. That’s why most army members sincerely want that those who crossed the line are brought to justice, so that no government can ever again give the army unfair orders to commit crimes like enforced disappearances or killings. BNP fully agrees with this shared desire,” the statement reads.
The party also said that respect for the law and human rights must form the foundation of a peaceful and accountable state.
BNP also said that every country should function according to the “law of the land”. “Just as the responsibility for the actions of a few individuals should not be placed on an entire organisation, it is also wrong to question that institution because of the misdeeds of a few.”
It said a person alone is responsible for their own actions, and especially for serious crimes, responsibility lies entirely with the individual who commits them.
Describing itself as the party that suffered the most abductions, killings, and persecution during the entire period of fascism, the BNP said it firmly stands for justice for all human rights violations.
“What matters here is not the identity of the institution, but the individual’s crime and the rule of law. The isolated crimes of certain individuals have no connection — and should have no connection — with the people’s trust, respect, and affection for a patriotic force,” the party added.
“Institutional identity is irrelevant; only the individual’s crimes and the rule of law matter. No one’s isolated crime should affect the public’s trust, respect, or confidence in a patriotic armed force -- and it should not.”
At a Saturday press briefing at Dhaka Cantonment, Maj Gen Md Hakimuzzaman, the adjutant general of the Bangladesh Army, said 15 of the 25 officers were in service, one had gone on leave pending retirement, 15 were in Army custody, and one remained missing.
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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said that “impartial and transparent” trials are essential to uphold the professionalism and honour of the Army, particularly in cases involving personnel accused of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the previous Awami League government.
In a statement issued Friday night and signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the BNP said: “Every member of the Army is a proud son of this nation. We believe most officers themselves want those who exceeded their authority to face justice—so that no future government can again issue unlawful orders for disappearances or killings.”
“The BNP fully supports this universal aspiration for justice and accountability,” the statement added.
The remark comes after the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday issued arrest warrants in three cases against 32 individuals, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Among them, 25 are current or former Army officers.
“Every member of the army is a proud son of this country and its soil. That’s why most army members sincerely want that those who crossed the line are brought to justice, so that no government can ever again give the army unfair orders to commit crimes like enforced disappearances or killings. BNP fully agrees with this shared desire,” the statement reads.
The party also said that respect for the law and human rights must form the foundation of a peaceful and accountable state.
BNP also said that every country should function according to the “law of the land”. “Just as the responsibility for the actions of a few individuals should not be placed on an entire organisation, it is also wrong to question that institution because of the misdeeds of a few.”
It said a person alone is responsible for their own actions, and especially for serious crimes, responsibility lies entirely with the individual who commits them.
Describing itself as the party that suffered the most abductions, killings, and persecution during the entire period of fascism, the BNP said it firmly stands for justice for all human rights violations.
“What matters here is not the identity of the institution, but the individual’s crime and the rule of law. The isolated crimes of certain individuals have no connection — and should have no connection — with the people’s trust, respect, and affection for a patriotic force,” the party added.
“Institutional identity is irrelevant; only the individual’s crimes and the rule of law matter. No one’s isolated crime should affect the public’s trust, respect, or confidence in a patriotic armed force -- and it should not.”
At a Saturday press briefing at Dhaka Cantonment, Maj Gen Md Hakimuzzaman, the adjutant general of the Bangladesh Army, said 15 of the 25 officers were in service, one had gone on leave pending retirement, 15 were in Army custody, and one remained missing.
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