Politics
Deputy speaker says accountability must precede reconciliation
At a Dhaka conference, Kayser Kamal called for independent justice and scrutiny of the current government alongside accountability for past abuses.
From 6 October 2026 — Daily Brief
Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal said on Monday that accountability for abuses must come before national reconciliation, rejecting calls for an accommodation with the ousted Awami League government without justice.
He was speaking at a Bay of Bengal Conversation session in Dhaka on justice, accountability and reconciliation. His remarks set out a political position; they were not a court ruling on the responsibility of individual defendants.
Kamal argued that reconciliation processes could protect perpetrators when they were used to avoid legal consequences. He called for institutions that serve citizens and for justice mechanisms independent of political influence.
He also said the government formed after the 2024 uprising must face public scrutiny and remain accountable. Transparency, he argued, was essential to the legitimacy of the current political order as well as to addressing past abuses.
Other speakers examined the conditions for a lasting settlement. New Age editor Nurul Kabir said reconciliation required investigation, reparations for victims, acknowledgement of wrongdoing and punishment of perpetrators.
Drawing on Cambodia’s experience, peace researcher Nikki Singer stressed dialogue and the way societies remember conflict, while cautioning that an exclusive focus on assigning blame could obstruct progress.
The discussion highlighted differing approaches to combining justice, institutional reform and reconciliation after political violence.
