Dhaka, Nov 3 (bdnews24.com) – The government will revive the case for trial of the killers of the four national leaders, the LGRD minister said on Tuesday marking the Jail Killing Day.
"Those who were involved with Bangabandhu killing also killed the four national leaders," said Syed Ashraful Islam, the son of Syed Nazrul Islam, one of the slain leaders.
The slain leaders—acting war time president of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam, prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed and ministers M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman—also served the government in first years after independence.
They were killed in Dhaka Central Jail on Nov 3 1975, less than three months after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib himself was assassinated.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina along with cabinet members went to Dhanmondi 32 Tuesday morning and laid floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding leader of Bangladesh, who was killed along with his family members on Aug 15, 1975.
Later, Hasina also paid tributes to the four national leaders visiting their grave at Banani graveyard.
AL leader Mohammad Nasim, son of another slain leader Monsur Ali, said: "If the trial of Bangabandhu killing is held many of the killers would be brought to justice since the same people were involved in both the killings."
State minister for law Quamrul Islam said the government has decided to revive the trial of the jail killing case.
The Awami League government had revived the trial of the Jail Killings 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. Appeals are now pending.
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.
The late BNP leader KM Obaidur Rahman, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Shah Moazzem Hossain, former ministers Taheruddin Thakur and Nurul Islam Manzur and retired Major Khairuzzaman, also accused, were cleared of the charges.
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