32 years on, jail killers still go unpunished

Dhaka, Nov 3 (bdnews24.com) – This Saturday, November 3, is Jail Killing Day, a sad event in the life of the nation.

On this day in 1975 four national leaders who led the liberation war—first acting president of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam, prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed, and cabinet members retired captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman—were killed while in detention in Dhaka Central Jail.

The Awami League (AL) has planned a two-day memorial to pay tribute to them.

The tribute will include the garlanding of the portrait of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hoisting of the party flag at half mast at the AL office, wearing black badges, laying wreaths at the graves of the four leaders at Banani graveyard and a discussion session at the Engineers Institution Sunday.

AL's acting president Zillur Rahman said, "The killing was part of a deep conspiracy to rob Bangladesh of leadership. The killing was a continuation of the murder of Bangabandhu on August 15. The national leaders sacrificed their lives with courage and firmness for the interest of the country and the nation."

"They did not bow down to the killers and conspirators."

He said the lives of the four national leaders would ever inspire the people in their struggle against injustice.

After the assassination of Sheikh Mujib and the murder of much of his family on August 15, 1975, four leaders in the Mujibnagar government were detained at Dhaka central jail.

They were killed while in custody on November 3.

The murder of the four jailed leaders has since been remembered as Jail Killing Day.

The Awami League government revived the trial of the jail killing case after coming to power in 1996.

A verdict was announced on Oct 20, 2004 during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, sentencing 15 of the 20 accused.

Three former army officials were handed down death sentences by hanging and 12 others were awarded life imprisonment.

Risalder Mosleh Uddin, Dafader Sharafat Ali and Abul Hossain Mridha were given death sentences.

Col (retd) Syed Faruk Rahman, Col (retd) Syed Shahriar Rashid, Major (retd) Bazlul Huda, Lt Col (removed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (retd) Shariful Haq Dalim, Lt Col (retd) MHMB Noor Chowdhury, Major (retd) Mohiuddin Ahmed, Lt Col (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Major (retd) Ahmed Shariful Hossain, Captain (retd) Abdul Majed, Captain (sacked) Md Kismat Hossain and Captain (retd) Nazmul Hossain Ansar were sentenced to life in prison.

BNP leader late KM Obaidur Rahman, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Shah Moazzem Hossain, former ministers Taheruddin Thakur and Nurul Islam Manzur and retired Major Khairuzzaman were cleared of the charges.

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