Inu demands posthumous trial of ex-military ruler Gen Zia over Col Taher ‘murder’

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) President Hasnul Haq Inu has called for a posthumous trial of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for allegedly masterminding the murder of Liberation War sector commander Abu Taher.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 July 2015, 04:19 PM
Updated : 21 July 2015, 04:20 PM

Inu raised the demand at a party function in Dhaka to commemorate Col Taher’s 39th death anniversary on Tuesday, his information ministry said in a media statement.

Lt Col Taher was hanged on July 21, 1976 following a military court judgement.

As the Army chief, Lt Col Zia had ordered Taher’s arrest on charges of treason and murder in connection with a soldiers’ mutiny and an uprising in November, 1975.

The military tribunal inside the Dhaka Central Jail tried and sentenced Taher to death on July 17, 1976. But the High Court on Mar 22, 2011 overturned the verdict and observed that the execution had taken place as per Zia's plan.

Zia had taken over state power and formed the BNP.

Inu, who also faced a military court trial along with Taher, later challenged the judgment’s legality.

He said on Tuesday: “General Zia killed freedom fighter Taher on this day in 1976 as part of his deep-rooted conspiracy to cling on to power.”

“Besides paying homage to Col Taher, I’m urging the countrymen and all MPs on behalf of my own and JaSaD to arrange posthumous trials of all murderers, including Ziaur Rahman,” he added.

Referring to Zia’s murder within five years of Taher’s execution, the JaSaD chief said: “Though we lost Col Taher, Zia could not cling to power.”