Major parties happy with ICT verdict

Major political parties of the country say they are satisfied with the verdict of the second war crimes tribunal that handed out death sentence to former Jamaat activist Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar, but they insist the order should be speedily executed.

After the tribunal delivered the verdict, ruling Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif said the verdist will be carried out the moment Bachchu Razakar is caught.

“I am grateful to the people for their support (to the trials of the war criminals). Now the verdict has to be executed fast,” Hanif said.

He also said the law enforcement agencies will take necessary measures against those who would try to create chaos.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 earlier in the day sentenced Bachchu Razakar to death for his crimes against humanity during the War of Independence in 1971. He has been on the run since the tribunal issued arrest warrant against him in April last year.

Senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed described it as "a very happy day for the nation."

"This verdict is going to fulfil the nation’s long-awaited expectations,” he said, but insisted on speedy execution of the order.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia welcomed the verdict but said it should be implemented soonest.

“This verdict has avenged what happened forty years ago. Freedom prevails,” said JaSaD Executive President and lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal.

Bangladesh Workers’ Party President Rashed Khan Menon described the verdict as a "payback".

"I hope other verdicts will come soon too. We will wash this disgrace off the nation,” Menon said and condemned those who are against the war crimes trial.

President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Mujahidul Islam Selim also made the similar demand as Ambia and Tofail- speedy execution of Bachchu Razakar’s death sentence.

He told bdnews24.com, “The people are happy with this verdict. But they also want to see the sentence executed fast.”

“The nation also expects other detainees including Ghulam Azam and Matiur Rahman Nizami to get the same sentence and then get what they deserve,” Selim said.

The CPB chief also questioned how Bachchu Razakar managed to flee from the country.

“The question remains- how did Bachchu Razakar slip past the law enforcement agencies? Who helped him? It is very important to investigate the matter,” he said.

He also demanded to bring those to justice who helped the war criminal to flee the country.

ICT-2 ordered Bachchu Razakar’s death by hanging as he was found guilty on seven charges including genocide, murder, rape, loot. He was acquitted in one charge.

Many people were seen in high spirits and different organisations were seen taking out rallies in areas of Dhaka to "celebrate" the ICT verdict.