Fakhrul questions legality of Nizami, Quasem, Salauddin Quader’s death sentences

He referred to the incidents as “shameful chapters in the history of this nation”

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has claimed the ousted Awami League government handed down death sentences in “false” cases against two Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and a BNP standing committee member over crimes against humanity in 1971.

He made this comment at a discussion meeting organised at the Shilpakala Academy on Saturday to mark the 21st founding anniversary of the Daily Naya Diganta.

Fakhrul said, “Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, Naya Diganta owner Mir Quasem Ali, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Quader [Chowdhury], and many Islamic scholars were sentenced to death in fabricated cases. These are shameful chapters in the history of this nation.”

He said the nation has not forgotten the repression faced by pro-democracy forces under what he calls a “fascist” regime, mentioning “false cases” against 6 million party workers and the killing and enforced disappearance of more than 20,000 opposition activists.

Referring to the treatment of journalists during that period, Fakhrul said the people of this country want a free and democratic Bangladesh, “a Bangladesh that is not under the control of any foreign power, but is governed by the will of the people”.

Citing the one-party BAKSAL rule of 1975, he recalled the chilling effect on press freedom and the closure of all newspapers except four.

“That was a dark time when journalists lost their jobs and many were forced to become hawkers,” he said.

“Later, the martyred president Ziaur Rahman restored press freedom and reintroduced multi-party democracy.”