No relief until execution: witnesses

Several witnesses in the war crimes case against Delwar Hossain Sayedee on Thursday were pleased with the death sentence for the Jamaat-e-Islami leader, but said they would not be relieved until the verdict is executed.

“We have got the verdict we wanted. We’re happy. But we won’t be relieved until (his execution),” said witness number three in the case, Mizanur Rahman Talukder.

The International Crimes Tribunal -1 convicted capital punishment for his crimes against humanity in 1971.

Talukder told bdnews24.com that Sayedee was involved directly or indirectly with all the crimes, including genocide, murder, arson, rape, loot and persecution, happened in Parerhat area of Pirojpur since May 8 during the Liberation War.

Holding Jamaat responsible for the Friday’s frenzy of violence across the country including at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, he said: “They came out on the street before end of (Juma) prayers chanting slogans. It cannot be the act of any Muslim. They’re the agents of Jews and descendents of Yazid.”

He urged the people to stand against the ‘anti-religious acts’ of Jamaat in the name of Islam.

Another witness, Saif Hafizur Rahman, brother of then Pirojpur Deputy Magistrate Saif Mizanur Rahman, who was killed by Sayedee accomplices in 1971, said justice has been delivered.

“Expectations of the people of the whole country have been reflected in the judgment.”

Plaintiff of the case, Mahbubul Alam Hawlader, whose house was torched and sibling tortured during the Liberation War, also expressed satisfaction at the verdict.

“The confusion arising out of the life-term verdict given to (Abdul) Quader Molla is now over with this judgment.”

He told bdnews24.com: “The oppression of the Pak Army in 1971 would not possible unless the collaboration of the traitors like Sayedee. The Pak military personnel did not know the people and their houses. These people (like Sayedee) helped them (Pak Army) identify them.”

Another witness Manik Pashari said: “They (Pak Army collaborators) destroyed everything I had in 1971. Now I got justice. Not only me, all the people of the country are happy with this verdict.”

Witness Abdul Halim Babu thanked the young generation for their movement demanding highest punishment to the suspected war criminals. “I’m feeling well thinking that the verdict will give peace, at least a little bit, to the souls of the martyrs in the Liberation War.

He said: “The soil of Bangla will be completely free from the stigma when the verdicts against all these (war criminals) will be executed. The real happiness and relief will come only that day.

The young generation began protests at Shahbagh in the capital after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 gave Molla life in prison on Feb 5. Later, joined by people across the country, they are demanding capital punishment to all war criminals.