Nizami to be hanged in similar process followed during previous executions: Law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq says the dismissal of war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami’s appeal to review his death sentence is ‘another step towards repaying the debts of 1971’.

He says the Jamaat-e-Islami chief will be hanged in a similar process followed during the previous executions of four war criminals.

Huq was briefing the media at his office on Thursday in reaction to the final Appellate Division verdict sealing Nizami’s fate.

He said the verdict was a “proof” that Bangladesh had been “slowly returning from the culture of impunity, which was introduced after 1975, to the rule of law”.

“We will be forever indebted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and those who embraced martyrdom for our independence. But there should be some steps to repay the debts,” Huq said.

“Final verdict on Nazami’s punishment was out today (Thursday). Our debt has been somewhat lessened,” he added.

Nizami, 73, was sentenced to death for atrocities like genocide and rape he committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

Huq said, “The most important thing is I am 60 now. I have seen (the War). On a personal note, the (war crimes) verdicts are very emotional”

“The audacity they showed and the way they behaved in 1971...I feel good to see that they are being brought to justice,” he said.

The law minister said the verdict would assure the justice-seekers that no criminal would be spared.

“We are overall happy at this verdict,” he said.

He also said in no other country war crimes trials go through so many stages. He said Bangladesh has ‘ensured all-out legal opportunities for the war criminals’.

“Our voice, the people’s voice, has been established through the trial,” the law minister said.

About Nizami, Huq said the convict could now seek president’s mercy and he would be given ‘reasonable’ time to decide on the matter.

“This verdict to hang him will be executed like the previous ones,” he said.

He thanked the International Crimes Tribunal lawyers for collecting witnesses and evidence of the war crimes cases after so many years.