This government came to power with a democratic mandate. But it risks squandering it. City administrations must look neutral. International crimes prosecutions must feel independent. And the central bank must signal credibility beyond politics.
From five charges to two: The shifting charges in the Hasina trial
Amnesty concerns about cross-examination, defense preparation time, and structural weaknesses merit careful scrutiny. We must not dismiss them. However, they also need to be understood within context.
This verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal is not merely the conclusion of one case; it is the beginning of the journey toward a new Bangladesh -- a Bangladesh that will be founded on justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
The judgment of the Tribunal is therefore not only a sentence against one person; it is a declaration that no one, however powerful, stands above the law of the Republic. The arc of justice has finally bent toward Bangladesh.
Ending the death penalty and ensuring fair trials would not weaken the pursuit of accountability -- it would strengthen it. In doing so, Bangladesh’s long-awaited reckoning with the past could become the foundation of a more just, rights-respecting, and humane future.
In the eyes of the law, liability is personal. A uniform is not a cloak of impunity, nor does the language of the law permit targeting the uniform to put an entire institution in the dock.
