'Mohiuddin must have chance before execution'

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The execution of the death sentence against Bangabandhu's killer Lt Col (retd) Mohiuddin Ahmed will not take place despite his return home on deportation from the USA as the fugitive's legal right is yet to be exhausted, lawyers pleaded, reports UNB.
Advocate Anisul Huq, who conducted the Bangabandhu murder case as special public prosecutor, said Sunday that Mohiuddin, who was tried in absentia, holds the right to appeal before the Supreme Court (SC) along with an application for condoning the delay.
Normally, a condemned convict is given time to file an appeal within thirty days of the receipt of the judgment pronounced by the High Court (HC).
"Mohiuddin must have been given chance to move the apex court for ends of justice," said the lawyer on his opposite side.
"Even if he is rejected by the highest court, he may seek mercy from the President to condone his sentence passed by the HC," he added.
Anis, an expert in criminal laws, said that all the legal formalities, including his right to appeal, must be exhausted before he goes to the gallows.
In November 1998, the trial court sentenced to death 15 former army officers, including rankers, for the August 15 carnage, but the HC later upheld the trial court sentence acquitting three of them.
Meanwhile, the appeal hearing in the Bangabandhu murder case remained uncertain for long with the Appellate Division due to the 'complication' in the constitution of bench.
The appeals were filed by four condemned prisoners-Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farook Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col (retd) Mohiuddin (artillery) and Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda. The others are absconding abroad.