Law minister reiterates govt resolve of finding all the killers of Bangabandhu

Law Minister Anisul Haq has conveyed the government’s strong resolve to youths that they will find out all convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and execute the verdict.

Speaking at a seminar, he also said that the government was trying to bring back AHMB Noor Chowdhury from Canada and M Rashed Chowdhury from the US where they are on political asylum.

“We’ll find out all killers no matter where they are hiding,” he said as the government has no clue about the whereabouts of convict Risaldar Moslehuddin (Khan).

Another convict, Abdur Rashid  had gone to Pakistan from Libya while Shariful Haque Dalim was in Pakistan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier said. Four others are either in the US or Canada.

Awami League’s research-wing Centre for Research and Information (CRI) organised the seminar marking the National Mourning Day of Aug 15 when in 1975 Bangabandhu was killed with most of his family members at his home by some 'disgruntled' army officers.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived the massacre because they were abroad.

Twelve army officers involved in the assassination had been 'rewarded' with jobs in diplomatic missions abroad in 1977 when Ziaur Rahman came to power through a military coup. Indemnity law was passed in parliament to protect them from the trial.

Five of them -- Syed Faruque Rahman, Sultan Shahariar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, Mohiuddin Ahmed and AKM Mohiuddin – were hanged in 2010. One died abroad as a fugitive.

The Law minister, who was the chief prosecutor of Bangabandhu murder case, said the government had already appointed lawyers for the review of Rashid Chowdhury’s asylum status in the US.

“We are in discussion with Canada to bring back Noor Chowdhury,” he said as the participants comprising young professionals mostly lawyers and students of the law asked about the whereabouts of the convicted killers.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Fazilatunnesa Bappy MP, Chairman Centre for Genocide Studies at Dhaka University Delwar Hossain, and Executive Editor of Daily Janakantha Swadesh Roy spoke at the seminar moderated by Dr Mizanur Rahman, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.

Radwan Mujib Siddiq, a grandson of Bangabandhu, also spoke at the seminar titled "Bangabandhu Murder Case: Journey, Accomplishments and Remaining Challenges".

The Dhaka University Vice-chancellor said, "to understand Bangabandhu, one has to feel him."

He also stressed on preserving his speeches delivered after the liberation. “You will get inspirations and guidelines through those speeches”.

“These are mere excuses,” Dr Mizanur Rahman said as Canada says they cannot extradite someone who can face capital punishment in that country. “If you are true to international law and the rule of law, you cannot avoid it”.

Swadesh Roy was critical of media’s role in the murder of Bangabandhu.

“Rather media set the tone for the murder,” he said, referring to the Ittefaq story of one ‘Bashanti’.