Bangladesh for return and execution of the absconding killers

by Special Correspondent
February 1, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/468/bangladesh-for-return-and-execution-of

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a meeting in Dhaka on January 30, 2010 said her government would also bring back the other convicted killers of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from abroad to face the death penalty.

Commenting on the absconding killers of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina said, "Where will they hide? The world is big and also too small — they have nowhere to hide."

Meanwhile, ministries of Foreign Affairs, Law and Home Affairs are working in unison in identifying the latest locations of the absconding killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to take further steps in bringing them back for execution. Law minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed told reporters, "If all the convicted killers of Bangabandhu are not executed, the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict will remain incomplete."

Commenting on the news published in Canada that Canadian authorities not send Noor Chowdhury to Bangladesh and he will be hanged as per the verdict given by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the law minister said, "the news is not correct."

It may be mentioned here that, a section of Canadian press reported that, Canada, which had already launched the process for Noor Chowdhury's extradition, might now reject Bangladesh's call to deport the Toronto resident in the wake of the execution of the five.

Canada does not have the provision of death penalty in its justice system.

The 59-year-old Chowdhury has been challenging a Canadian deportation order on the grounds that he would be hanged if he returned to Bangladesh.

Canada, which abolished capital punishment in 1976, requires foreign nations to guarantee that any suspect extradited by it will not be subject to the death penalty.

Noor Chowdhury is the man who sprayed bullets on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the already executed Bazlul Huda.

Bangladesh Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun said, red notice has been issued against the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu through the Interpol under urgent government initiative to bring them back and execute the court conviction. She said, aspiration of the people of the country will be fulfilled through the execution of the rest six fugitive killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Leaders and workers of Awami League ransacked and set fire to the house of the brother of Bangabandhu's killer Aziz Pasha in Ghior upazila of Manikganj district. Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe in 2001.

The agitated Awami League leaders and workers also showed their anger at late Aziz Pasha, and at a rally hanged an effigy of the killer in a token execution. Several hundred leaders and workers of the ruling party led by Awami League leader Dewan Saidur Rahman came to Aziz Pasha's house at Sreebari in Ghior with more than 200 motor-bikes. Defying police obstruction, they ransacked the house of Alam Pasha, late Aziz Pasha's brother. At one stage they set the house on fire.

Meanwhile, local Awami League leaders and supporters are continuing demonstrations in various parts of the country for removal of the dead bodies of the executed army officers from various graveyards in Bangladesh, who were hanged in Dhaka on January 27, 2010 for their involvement in murdering the founding father of the nation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman [March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975] was a Bengali politician and the founding leader of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, generally considered in the country as the father of the Bangladeshi nation. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He is popularly referred to as Sheikh Mujib, and with the honorary title of Bangabandhu [Friend of Bengal]. His eldest daughter Sheikh Hasina is the present leader of the Awami League and the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

A student political leader, Mujib rose in East Pakistani politics and within the ranks of the Awami League as a charismatic and forceful orator. An advocate of socialism, Mujib became popular for his leadership against the ethnic and institutional discrimination of Bengalis. He demanded increased provincial autonomy, and became a fierce opponent of the military rule of Ayub Khan. At the heightening of sectional tensions, Mujib outlined a 6-point autonomy plan, which was seen as separatism in West Pakistan. He was tried in 1968 for allegedly conspiring with the Indian government but was not found guilty. Despite leading his party to a major victory in the 1970 elections, Mujib was not invited to form the government.

After talks broke down with President Yahya Khan and West Pakistani politician Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Sheikh Mujib on 26 March 1971 announced the declaration of independence of East Pakistan and announced the establishment of the sovereign People's Republic of Bangladesh. Subsequently he was arrested and tried by a military court during his nine month detention. Guerrilla war erupted between government forces and Bengali nationalists aided by India. An all out war between the Pakistan Army and Bangladesh-India Joint Forces led to the establishment of Bangladesh, and after his release Mujib assumed office as a provisional president, and later prime minister. Even as a constitution was adopted, proclaiming socialism and a secular democracy, Mujib struggled to address the challenges of intense poverty and unemployment, coupled with rampant corruption. Amidst rising popular agitation, he banned other political parties and established a one party state. He also banned all newspapers in Bangladesh but four.

On January 25, 1975 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared a state of emergency and his political supporters approved a constitutional amendment banning all opposition political parties. Sheikh Mujib was declared "president for life," and given extraordinary powers. His political supporters amalgamated to form the only legalized political party, the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, commonly known by its initials—BAKSAL. The party identified itself with the rural masses, farmers and laborers and took control of government machinery. It also launched major socialist programs. Using government forces and a militia of supporters called the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman oversaw the arrest of opposition activists and strict control of political activities across the country. The militia and police were accused of torturing suspects and political killings.

After only seven months, on August 15, 1975, a group of junior army officers invaded the presidential residence with tanks and assassinated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his family and personal staffs. Only his daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, who were visiting West Germany, escaped. They were banned from returning to Bangladesh. The coup was planned by disgruntled Awami League colleagues and military officers, which included Bangabandhu's colleague and former confidanté Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, who became his immediate successor.

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