A London-based British investigative journalist and human rights activist — who has reported extensively for outlets including Al Jazeera, The Daily Telegraph, and Channel 4 News, focusing on Bangladesh, including war crimes and politics — has issued the following commentary after Tarique Rahman’s press conference today.
At today's press conference Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh's new prime minister-in-waiting, was asked this question by a journalist:
"Many people in Bangladesh remain supporters of the Awami League. What kind or types of reconciliation [should there be for them] in Bangladesh."
He answered:
"By ensuring rule of law".
It was a short response, but potentially a significant one - as if the new BNP government follows through with that mindset, many of the problems in the last 18 months that have beset those Awami League activists or supporters - who were not complicit in July/August 2024 violence but have nonetheless been named or/and arrested in criminal cases - can be resolved.
How could this be achieved?
One possible mechanism would be the establishment of a national review committee composed of senior, independent, and widely respected lawyers, none of whom are affiliated with any political party. This body would be tasked with scrutinising each case and reviewing any evidence already collected by the police against every individual named. Where the evidence is absent or clearly insufficient, the committee could recommend removal from the FIR and appropriate legal relief.
If subsequent investigations were to produce credible new evidence against any individual previously removed, that material could be referred back to the same committee for review and determination as to whether re-inclusion is justified.
Implementing such a process would likely require legislative amendment. However, some structured mechanism of this kind appears necessary if arbitrary detention and harassment is to stop, and some kind of reconciliation is to be started.
If the new government is serious about grounding reconciliation in the rule of law, then action — and swift action — is essential.