Welcoming the death sentence handed down to deposed prime minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity, the National Citizen Party has demanded that not only individuals but also the Awami League be brought to book as a political party.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam made the demand at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Dhaka on Monday afternoon.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday sentenced Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death, and jailed former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun for five years, in a crimes against humanity case linked to last year’s July mass uprising.

Nahid said that the verdict must be executed swiftly with immediate steps to repatriate Hasina from New Delhi.

“The death sentence must be carried out after bringing her back [from India] within one month,” he added.

Nahid said the verdict makes it clear that Sheikh Hasina, as the prime minister, was the instigator and mastermind of the genocide. “Consequently, the Awami League, as a party, is also accused of crimes against humanity. The trial of the party must begin.”

He said the fight will continue to ensure that the trial process carries on even after the parliamentary election and that its progress is not halted in any way.