Govt awaits SC directive to execute Kamaruzzaman

The government is waiting for the directive of the Supreme Court for execution of war crimes death row convict Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, Law Minister Anisul Haque told reporters after a meeting of the Ministry of Law at the Secretariat on Tuesday. ‘You may be curious to know about the execution of Kamaruzaman. But the meeting did not discuss the issue,’ the minister said. When asked about the latest update on the matter, ‘Last update hasn’t arrived. We are waiting for the Supreme Court’s directive.’ Kamaruzzaman, was sentenced to death on May 9 last year by International Crimes Tribunal-2 for his crimes against humanity during Bangladesh’s independence struggles in 1971. The Appellate Division upheld the death sentence of Kamaruzzaman in the final verdict on Nov 3. The prosecution said the Tribunal would issue the death warrant of the convict after getting the Appellate Division’s verdict. After that, the government will execute the verdict. For this the government might also use the Jail Code. The code states that every death-row convict can appeal for presidential clemency. The clemency will have to be sought within 7 days, according to a news agency.