Sheikh Selim to ‘take over AL'

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina says senior Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim will serve as party president in her absence, ruling out her sister Sheikh Rehana for the role.

Hasina made the remarks in a telephone interview with Amal Sarkar, executive editor of Indian outlet The Wall.

“Sheikh Selim is now the senior-most Presidium member. He will serve as president in my absence,” the report quoted her as saying.

Hasina has been in India since leaving Bangladesh after the student-led uprising of Aug 5, 2024.

She was later sentenced to death in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity.

Speculation has persisted over the future leadership of the Awami League and who might take charge of the organisation in Hasina’s absence.

Asked whether Rehana could assume the role, Hasina said: “Rehana is not directly involved in politics.”

She instead named Selim, her cousin, as the senior figure who would take charge.

Some former Awami League ministers and senior leaders, however, told bdnews24.com they had reservations about the decision.

One said discussions held at meetings at Selim’s residence often became public quickly.

Another pointed to allegations previously raised against Selim, including claims of corruption and nepotism.

Selim’s eldest son Sheikh Fazle Fahim is married to Nancy Zahara, the sister of State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.

His younger son Barrister Sheikh Fazle Naeem is married to Sarah Hasin Mahmud, daughter of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku.

DESIRE TO RETURN, SECURITY FEARS
Hasina also reiterated that she wanted to return to Bangladesh and surrender before a tribunal in December.

But she said she had serious concerns about her safety.

“If I return, they can kill me at the airport,” she said.

Hasina also said she did not want to endanger others by instructing them to return.

“Everyone’s life is at risk. I don’t want to put anyone in danger by giving them orders to return home,” she said.

MILITANCY WARNING
Hasina claimed that a “militant force” was gaining ground in Bangladesh and said the consequences would not be confined to the country.

“India will also have to pay the price for the rise of militancy in Bangladesh,” she said.

She also criticised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, saying: “Bargaining over Tarique Rahman’s visit to India is actually belittling one’s own country.”

QUESTIONS OVER INDIA
Hasina also questioned India’s position on Bangladesh’s election and Tarique’s return to the country.

“The Indian government can best say what it thought when it supported the Bangladesh elections and brought Tarique back,” she said.

At the same time, she stressed the importance of regional cooperation and ties based on mutual interests between the two neighbours.

“My heart bleeds when I see my country being destroyed,” Hasina said.

Meanwhile, An initiative has been taken to amend the International Crimes Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure to clarify how property confiscation orders issued in tribunal cases will be implemented.

The tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told reporters at the prosecution office on Monday that any amendment to the Rules of Procedure would also apply retrospectively to cases involving ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other verdicts that have already been passed.

“If the Rules of Procedure are amended now, the same process will be implemented in those verdicts with retrospective effect. There is no legal problem in that,” he said.

The chief prosecutor said the law and Rules of Procedure allow the tribunal to order the confiscation of property or impose fines, while also providing for compensation to victims’ families.

“But the process by which the confiscation or forfeiture process will be carried out is stated in our domestic law, but it is not clearly stated in our procedure,” he added.

He said he would draw the tribunal’s attention to the issue while presenting arguments in a case before Tribunal-2.

“Future judgments should have clear instructions on this matter,”Aminul said. “If the judgment mentions the provision of selling confiscated property or collecting fines in our existing ‘Public Demand Recovery Act’ or Section 386 of the ‘Criminal Procedure Code’, subject to necessary changes (mutatis mutandis) in the judgment, it will be easier for the government to implement it.”

“We need to amend the relevant rule of the Rules of Procedure and mention detailed provisions there. Then, when the government goes to implement the judgment given by the tribunal, it will be easier for them if they have a clear legal concept.”

Aminul noted that the tribunal judges had already been informed about the initiative to amend the rules.

“I mentioned the issue during the arguments of a case. They agreed with me and advised me to take an initiative in this regard. But due to lack of time, we have not been able to take that initiative so far.”

He also proposed holding a seminar to examine the legal issue and help determine how the rules should be amended.

“If we can discuss the flaws or advantages and disadvantages of the law in detail through a seminar with judges of the two tribunals, then the task of amending the rules will be easy for them.”

He opined that even if the prosecution has not yet been able to take action in this regard due to lack of time, the tribunal itself can also take such an initiative.
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