There is 'scope to appeal' for fugitive killers
Friday, 29 January 2010
There will still be scope to appeal for the six fugitive former army officers convicted of the 1975 killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed has said, reports bdnews24.com.
He said the government has information about the fugitives and is working to bring them back to face justice.
"The home and foreign ministries are working to bring the fugitives back. Interpol has already issued Red Alert notices against them," Mr Ahmed told reporters in the city Thursday.
The Supreme Court last November upheld the previous High Court death sentences of 12 former army officers for Mujib's murder.
The five detained killers, whose appeals were rejected on November 19 and review petitions dismissed Wednesday, were hanged in the early hours Thursday at Dhaka Central Jail.
Six of the original 12 are still fugitive in foreign countries including Pakistan, Canada, and Libya. One fugitive died since the High Court verdict in Zimbabwe.
Mr Ahmed said the Canadian government is helping Bangladesh to extradite fugitive Noor Chowdhury.
"Only the legal formalities are pending now," he said.
He criticised countries that sheltered killers by giving political asylum.
"The confessed killers should not be given political asylum. If they are indulged, crimes like killings will continue."
On complaints by lawyers of the five executed convicts that due legal process was not followed, the law minister said: "The execution was carried out by completing all legal procedures and allowing them all scopes.
"There are no grounds for making such allegations," he said.
The law minister said the nation's 35-year wait had come to an end through the executions.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has also said the fugitive killers will be brought back home.
"The convicts will not get respite from law. They will be brought back home," Mr Ashraf told reporters Thursday, hours after the execution.
Ruling Awami League (AL) presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury also pledged to bring the fugitive killers back.
"We are hopeful of bringing them back home," she told reporters Thursday at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jamuna.
Mr Ashraf, who is also AL general secretary, blamed former president Ziaur Rahman for protecting the killers.
"Ziaur Rahman did not only indemnify the killers he also rehabilitated them by awarding jobs in many foreign embassies."
"Those who did not want the trial of Bangabandhu murder promulgated indemnity ordinance to keep the killers away from the purview of trial.
"They are not happy today. But the nation is happy," he said.
"Crimes are never erased. The criminals must be tried.
"The executions of the five Bangabandhu killers have proved it that rule of law exists in the country.
"The nation has got rid of certain of its stains through the judgment. But it is not the end," Mr Ashraf said.
"We will hold trials of the Jail Killings (of four national leaders in 1975) and war criminals. After that the nation will get respite from stains," said Mr Ashraf, the son of Syed Nazrul Islam, one of the four slain leaders.
"We have to ensure that nobody is exempted from punishment after committing a crime," he said.
He said the government has information about the fugitives and is working to bring them back to face justice.
"The home and foreign ministries are working to bring the fugitives back. Interpol has already issued Red Alert notices against them," Mr Ahmed told reporters in the city Thursday.
The Supreme Court last November upheld the previous High Court death sentences of 12 former army officers for Mujib's murder.
The five detained killers, whose appeals were rejected on November 19 and review petitions dismissed Wednesday, were hanged in the early hours Thursday at Dhaka Central Jail.
Six of the original 12 are still fugitive in foreign countries including Pakistan, Canada, and Libya. One fugitive died since the High Court verdict in Zimbabwe.
Mr Ahmed said the Canadian government is helping Bangladesh to extradite fugitive Noor Chowdhury.
"Only the legal formalities are pending now," he said.
He criticised countries that sheltered killers by giving political asylum.
"The confessed killers should not be given political asylum. If they are indulged, crimes like killings will continue."
On complaints by lawyers of the five executed convicts that due legal process was not followed, the law minister said: "The execution was carried out by completing all legal procedures and allowing them all scopes.
"There are no grounds for making such allegations," he said.
The law minister said the nation's 35-year wait had come to an end through the executions.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has also said the fugitive killers will be brought back home.
"The convicts will not get respite from law. They will be brought back home," Mr Ashraf told reporters Thursday, hours after the execution.
Ruling Awami League (AL) presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury also pledged to bring the fugitive killers back.
"We are hopeful of bringing them back home," she told reporters Thursday at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jamuna.
Mr Ashraf, who is also AL general secretary, blamed former president Ziaur Rahman for protecting the killers.
"Ziaur Rahman did not only indemnify the killers he also rehabilitated them by awarding jobs in many foreign embassies."
"Those who did not want the trial of Bangabandhu murder promulgated indemnity ordinance to keep the killers away from the purview of trial.
"They are not happy today. But the nation is happy," he said.
"Crimes are never erased. The criminals must be tried.
"The executions of the five Bangabandhu killers have proved it that rule of law exists in the country.
"The nation has got rid of certain of its stains through the judgment. But it is not the end," Mr Ashraf said.
"We will hold trials of the Jail Killings (of four national leaders in 1975) and war criminals. After that the nation will get respite from stains," said Mr Ashraf, the son of Syed Nazrul Islam, one of the four slain leaders.
"We have to ensure that nobody is exempted from punishment after committing a crime," he said.