Killers' mercy pleas rejected
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
President Zillur Rahman rejected the clemency petitions of three of the five army officers with death sentences pending for the 1975 killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and sent those back to the home ministry, an official said Monday, reports bdnews24.com.
Mohammed Shafiul Alam, secretary to the President, told the news agency: "There is nothing more to do here. The petitions have been refused and were sent to the home ministry Sunday."
Inspector General of Police (Prisons) Brig Gen Md Ashraful Islam Khan told a press briefing on January 9 that Bazlul Huda, Mohiuddin Ahmed and AKM Mohiuddin had submitted clemency petitions, while the two other convicted killers -- Syed Faruque Rahman and Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan -- had not sought clemency yet.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed earlier this month had opined: "Death convicts usually do not get clemency. The people involved in the heinous act of killing Bangabandhu and his family members cannot be forgiven."
The minister had also refuted allegations that the three convicted killers were forced to put their signatures to the clemency petitions.
"There is no truth in such information. We did not press anybody for anything. A certain quarter is spreading rumours," he added.
The comment came after family and legal counsel of Huda and AKM Mohiuddin said they knew nothing about the clemency pleas. Lawyer for the two, barrister Abdullah Al Mamun questioned the process of submission of the petitions.
"It is mandatory that lawyers and relatives should be present while mercy petitions are submitted. But we do not know anything of them," he said on January 10.
Mohammed Shafiul Alam, secretary to the President, told the news agency: "There is nothing more to do here. The petitions have been refused and were sent to the home ministry Sunday."
Inspector General of Police (Prisons) Brig Gen Md Ashraful Islam Khan told a press briefing on January 9 that Bazlul Huda, Mohiuddin Ahmed and AKM Mohiuddin had submitted clemency petitions, while the two other convicted killers -- Syed Faruque Rahman and Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan -- had not sought clemency yet.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed earlier this month had opined: "Death convicts usually do not get clemency. The people involved in the heinous act of killing Bangabandhu and his family members cannot be forgiven."
The minister had also refuted allegations that the three convicted killers were forced to put their signatures to the clemency petitions.
"There is no truth in such information. We did not press anybody for anything. A certain quarter is spreading rumours," he added.
The comment came after family and legal counsel of Huda and AKM Mohiuddin said they knew nothing about the clemency pleas. Lawyer for the two, barrister Abdullah Al Mamun questioned the process of submission of the petitions.
"It is mandatory that lawyers and relatives should be present while mercy petitions are submitted. But we do not know anything of them," he said on January 10.