Staff Reporter :
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of army personnel accused of crimes against humanity, following the International Crimes Tribunal’s (ICT) recent issuance of arrest warrants against several officers.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook account on Thursday night, Nahid said the move presents a crucial test for Bangladesh’s commitment to justice and democratic accountability after last year’s July Uprising that toppled the previous government.
“During the past fascist regime, almost all state institutions were used for partisan interests, and the military was no exception,” he wrote. “Some officers, particularly those who served in RAB or DGFI, were involved in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and crossfire incidents. Even during the July Uprising, there were instances of firing on unarmed civilians.”
The NCP leader described these allegations as part of a “grim legacy” of political interference and institutional decay. He said the failure of democracy over the years had created a culture in which “state institutions were turned into instruments of control rather than guardians of the people.”
“After the mass uprising, we have a historic opportunity to cleanse and rebuild these institutions and ensure an end to political interference,” Nahid said. “Only then can the foundation of a truly democratic state and institutions be established.”
He urged the Bangladesh Army’s current leadership to fully cooperate with the tribunal and the interim government in ensuring accountability for those accused. “To free the army from stigma, those involved in crimes against humanity must be held accountable,” he said. “This is not a matter of institutional ego or prestige, but one of justice, democracy, and the state itself.”
At the same time, Nahid cautioned against efforts by “anti-state groups” to provoke confrontation between the judiciary and the military. “Just as we oppose military interference in politics, we also want a complete end to political influence or intervention in any institution, including the military,” he noted. “Institutions should be run based on patriotism, honesty, and merit.”
Highlighting his party’s role since the fall of the previous regime on August 5, Nahid said the NCP has been working “tirelessly to maintain national stability and unity” amid an ongoing transition. While acknowledging that “expectations have not yet been fully met,” he said progress has been made in the areas of reform and accountability.
“We are advancing towards reform, justice, and elections while maintaining stability,” he wrote. “Our next goal is to achieve justice, combat corruption and criminalisation, and pursue economic reforms.”
The International Crimes Tribunal, reactivated under the interim government earlier this year, recently extended its jurisdiction to include post-2009 cases of crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances and political killings allegedly committed by members of security forces during the Awami League’s tenure.
Nahid’s statement marks one of the strongest public endorsements yet from a political leader for full civilian oversight of the military justice process — a theme that has gained traction among reformist groups as Bangladesh attempts to redefine civil-military relations in the aftermath of the uprising.
