Closed-door meeting at Secretariat

Top government officials have held a closed-door meeting at the Secretariat amid the ongoing discussions on the execution of war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla's death verdict.

State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam, State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku attended Tuesday's meeting at the Prime Minister's Law Affairs advisor Shafique Ahmed's room in the afternoon.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, International Crimes Tribunal's Registrar AKM Nasir Uddin Mahmud, Law Secretray Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Zahirul Haque, Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmood Khandker also attended the meeting.

They were tight-lipped over the meeting's agenda.

Talking to journalists, Qamrul said: "I'll speak on the matter at 7pm today (Tuesday) at my residence."

Ministry officials, however, said the meeting was held to discuss execution of Quader Molla's death sentence.

A similar meeting had taken place on Monday after Molla's death warrant was issued.

State ministers for law, secretaries for home, law, IGP, attorney general, Additional Attorney General MK Rahman and IGP (Prison) Main Uddin Khandker had attended the meeting.

Main had told reporters that they had discussed the overall law-and-order situation, including executing the verdict.

The tribunal issued a death warrant for Quader Molla on Sunday. The Attorney General had said the verdict could be carried out at the government's order.

Although the defence counsel claims they can file a review plea against the Jamaat leader's death sentence, the prosecution says the Constitution does not provide for it.

Molla is currently lodged at the Dhaka Central Jail. His lawyers met him on Tuesday noon.

The Jamaat Assistant Secretary General can only seek mercy from the President and that, too, has to be within seven days of the full verdict's publication.

He is yet to decide on the matter although two days have passed.

After meeting Molla, chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq said they had been asked to file a review petition and the convict has not decided on seeking presidential clemency.