People of Bangladesh would have been happy if Sayedee’s death sentence was upheld, she said on Thursday, wading into the issue for the first time.
The highest appeals court on Wednesday watered down the death sentence, given by the International Crimes Tribunal, of the top Jamaat leader to ‘imprisonment until death’.
Ganajagaran Mancha has accused the government of 'colluding' with Jamaat on the verdict. The government has rejected this but otherwise has been reserved with its comments.
Hasina said in her closing remarks at the end of Parliament’s third session, “No one wanted this verdict. Sayedee earned fame as a religious preacher. Now the people will remember him as a murderer, rapist and war criminal.”
“He may have said good things, but as a person he was rogue.”
Though she said the verdict was unwanted, but the prime minister did not make any direct comment on the court’s ruling.
“Sayedee’s hanging would have made the nation happy. The courts are free, the judiciary is independent. There is nothing to say about this verdict.”
The Awami League president also questioned Jamaat's calling nationwide shutdowns for Thursday and Sunday in protest against the verdict.
“Would his (Sayedee) hanging have made Jamaat happy? This strike is against the judiciary and the judiciary will handle it.”
Hasina also said the trials of the 1971 war criminals would continue despite all obstructions.