Verdict on Bangabandhu murder trial hailed

---

Chief State Counsel of Bangabandhu murder case Advocate Anisul Huq expressing his reaction after announcement of Bangabandhu murder case verdict. — FocusBangla Photo

Country's general people, politicians, lawyers and businessmen have expressed satisfaction over the final verdict on Bangabandhu murder trial that was delivered by the apex court Thursday, reports BSS.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam in his instant reaction said the eagerly awaited judgment in the case has freed the country from nearly three and half decades long stigma.
"This verdict would be considered as one of the best judgements in the history of mankind," Mr Alam told a press briefing after the announcement of the verdict.
The Attorney General thanked AFM Muhitul Islam for lodging the First Information Report (FIR) with the police and Abdul Kahhar Akand for conducting an impartial as well as proper investigation into the case that led to Thursday's historic verdict.
Complainant of the case AFM Muhitul Islam, a receptionist and resident PA at Bangabandhu' house in 1975, paid his deep respects to the memories of those who were assassinated in the gruesome killing on August 15 in 1975.
"With my heart bleeding internally, I have long been waiting for this day, when such a pronouncement will turn our bereavement into a renewed vigour," he said.
In his reaction, Chief State Counsel Advocate Anisul Huq said the verdict of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court should be executed between 21 to 28 days from announcement of the verdict as per the Jail Code.
"After sending the copy of the verdict to the Central Jail, the verdict would be executed within 21 to 28 days," he said replying to a question whether the verdict would be executed before December 16.
As per Clause 991 of the Jail Code, the accused would be asked whether they seek mercy to the President and if they agree then they would be given seven days, which is part of 28 days, Mr Huq said.
Lawyers in their immediate reaction after the verdict said we believed that the rule of law has been restored in the country with the historic verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case.
The rule of law was crippled in the country after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said Advocate Rabiul Alam Budu, a state counsel.
Mr Budu said senior judge of the Bench Md Toffazel Islam read out the verdict in five minutes.
Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru said the apex court gave the verdict after 34 years of the brutal killing of Bangabandhu and most of his family members.
"As a lawyer I am satisfied with the fair verdict given by the Supreme Court", said the veteran lawyer.
Senior lawyer and presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League Yusuf Hossain Humayun said, "As a nation, we now feel proud as the judiciary at last has freed the country from stigma by delivering the historic verdict."
"Through the verdict, the nation was freed from debt, and the departed soul of Bangabandhu will remain in peace," said Mr Humayun, who was elected parliament member in by-election in 1973 in the seat left by Bangabandhu.
The country's business leaders expressed their deep happiness over the landmark verdict, which brought an end to the case that haunted the nation since the killing of Father of the Nation in 1975.
They said the verdict would brighten the country's image abroad and also increase business confidence among local and foreign investors in doing and expanding business and investment in Bangladesh.
"The historical verdict reflects the long desire of the nation. The entire nation has been waiting for 34 years for this day. With the verdict, the role of law has been upheld," Acting President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abul Kashem said.
The leader of the country's apex chamber body expressed the hope that the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy could be rooted out with implementation of the verdict.
President of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Bangladesh Aftabul-ul-Islam said the verdict closed a black chapter through legal process.
He said the killing of Bangabandhu slandered the country's image abroad. "But, today's verdict will restore the image," the AmCham president said.
President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Zafar Osman said it is not possible to establish rule of law in the country without ensuring justice in the Bangabandhu murder case.
Acting President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shafiqul Islam Mohiuddin said the nation was freed from stigma with the verdict.
"The judgment proves it again that no one is above the law," he said.
In his reaction, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan M Mujahid said his party is respectful to the Supreme Court verdict in Bangabandhu murder case.
"Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami believes in the rule of law. We are respectful to the verdict delivered by the apex court after a long hearing," he said in a brief press statement.
The people of Chittagong joined the nation in heaving a sigh of relief after hearing the verdict in Bangabandhu murder case.
Cross section of people in the port city termed the judgement as historic and expressed their satisfaction over the verdict.