Sheikh Hasina will get opportunity to defend herself if she returns home

Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, a member of Parliament from a reserved seat for women, has said that the BNP wants Sheikh Hasina to return to the country. If she returns, Sheikh Hasina will have the opportunity to defend herself while remaining subject to the law. Everyone, including the BNP, will have to accept whatever verdict the court delivers. The BNP does not believe in revenge; it believes in the rule of law and justice.

She made the remarks on Monday evening in response to questions from reporters after a tree planting program in the Bagerhatta area of Jamalpur municipal town.

BNP leader Nilufar Chowdhury Moni currently serves as assistant secretary for self reliance affairs of the BNP Executive Committee and as a member of Parliament from a reserved seat for women.

Regarding bringing Sheikh Hasina back to the country, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni said, ‘The interim government also wanted to bring her (Sheikh Hasina) back to this country, and this government also wants that. Letters are being exchanged, you have seen and heard about it. Let her come. That is what we want, that is what the BNP wants. Let her come. If she comes, she will have the opportunity to defend herself. But whatever has happened in the trial must be accepted. Whatever happens in the trial, whatever the verdict is, that must be accepted.’

Referring to statements by Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, she said, ‘He (Tarique Rahman) has repeatedly said that he does not believe in revenge. The BNP has never believed in revenge. It believes in the law and believes in justice. Whatever happens through the judicial process, the BNP always accepts that.’

Outlining the BNP’s position on sabotage, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni said, ‘The BNP is fully prepared to deal with any kind of sabotage. The BNP has protested injustice since its inception, and it will certainly resist sabotage.’

Speaking further about Sheikh Hasina, she said, ‘None of us is above the judiciary or above the law. Each of us must accept this.’

Regarding Bangladesh’s request to India to return an accused person, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni said, ‘We are asking our neighboring country to return our accused person because that is what we want. If the accused wants to come, that is good. The Bangladesh government will take care of an accused person in the way an accused person should be taken care of.’

Responding to reporters’ questions about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India, she said, ‘India is our neighbor. We cannot reject them. We cannot cut ties with them. We have to raise our various problems, explain them, and there will be an agreement and discussions on that.’

She further said, ‘I do not think that I will say, “I will not go if this is not brought to justice,” or “I will not do this if this is not brought to justice.” We also have to understand that India is on three sides of our country.’

District Jubo Dal Member Secretary Sohel Rana Khan, former organizing secretary of the district Swechchhasebak Dal Ikramul Haque Manik, and leaders and activists of the district and upazila BNP and its affiliated and associate organizations were present at the tree planting program.