State Minister for Land and Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin said debate over who deserves credit for the July mass uprising’s one-point and two-point declarations is encouraging a fugitive autocrat to consider returning. Speaking as chief guest at a discussion in Chattogram on August 7, he said Sheikh Hasina must return and face trial under the country’s existing laws.

The event, titled “Fascism, the July Revolution and Bangladesh Today,” was jointly organised by Chittagong Press Club and the Chittagong Metropolitan Journalists Union. Helal said no special or “kangaroo” court should be used, arguing that proceedings should follow established law. He said Hasina should face allegations from the past 17 years as well as killings during the July-August mass uprising.

Helal described the uprising as belonging to Bangladesh’s 180 million people rather than any individual or political party. He said it reflected accumulated public anger over disappearances, killings, torture, repression and false cases during the previous 17 years. Other speakers discussed the uprising’s significance, democratic establishment, accountable state institutions and aspects of the anti-fascist movement.