From death row, Juba League leader dramatically returns to politics

A Juba League leader, who was taken off death row for 'unnatural behaviour' a day before his hanging in 2014, claims he is still unwell.

A politician for the ruling Awami League's youth wing, Aslam Fakir was found guilty of murdering AKM Shahed Ali, chairman of Faridpur's Manikdaha union.

Ali was hacked to death by Fakir and his associates on Sept 25 of 2003. He was sentenced to death by a Faridpur court, a verdict upheld by the High Court. 

"I am still not mentally well. I stay sick sometimes. I have been consulting my doctor regularly," he told bdnews24.com.

The man, a close aide to Awami League Presidium member Kazi Zafarulla, is already out of prison.

After Fakir's unnatural episode on Nov 12, the day before his hanging, the president heeded his mercy petition, after having rejected his first on Oct 13, 2014.

On Feb 26 in 2015, his death sentence was brought down to 14 years in prison. But Fakir spent just two and a half years serving that reduced sentence.

A letter to the president from Zafarulla's wife, Nilufer Zafarulla, a reserved seat MP, had played a crucial role.

On last year's Independence Day, making use of the provision for general amnesty available on such national days, Nilufer Zafarulla pleaded with the president to free Fakir from prison.

Fakir, released from Gazipur's Maximum Security Prison on Aug 25 last year, returned to Manikdaha after three days.

He is now busy making preparations for the next Union council election not scheduled yet, something worrying for Parul Begum, wife of the Manikdaha chairman Fakir is convicted of murdering.

Begum told bdnews24.com, "He killed a man. We were waiting for justice. But that didn’t happen. He feigned mental illness to escape his execution."

"And now he has started engaging with the people! He has set up a stage next to his house for his campaigns. The influential people of this area are encouraging his behaviour."

She said she had asked Faridpur-4 MP Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon for help.

But Fakir, who spent 13 years behind bars including those while awaiting trial, claimed he is "still popular".

"I was active in party politics. I was once elected chairman. Now, people have been making visits to my house. I'm also keeping contact with party leaders. I may run for election if it is what people here want."

"People remember the person who supported them in their hour of need, right? It cannot be a crime."