DHAKA: As the country has been rocked by a fresh spell of violent incidents, the nation is awaiting the execution of BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury and Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahasan Mohammad Mojaheed for their crimes against humanity in 1971.

It is the perception of many that the violent and subversive activities committed recently in the country are very much the acts of the followers of these two condemned war criminals aimed at thwarting the trial of the war crimes. If the verdict sentencing them to death is executed, these evil activities will come to an end for the time being.   

The Appellate Division of the country’s apex court, the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

On the day following the publication of the verdict on September 30, the jail authorities read out the death warrants to these two condemned war criminals. Since then started the countdown of their executions.

However, two more legal steps still remain to be completed for the execution of the death sentence. Firstly, the review petitions filed by them have to be disposed of. Secondly, if the petition is rejected, they will get the chance to seek presidential clemency and if that appeal too is rejected then there will be no bar on executing them.

The date for hearing the review petitions of the two is fixed for November 2. It is learnt that a prayer will be submitted on behalf of the accused for deferring the hearing. The decision in this regard will depend on the court. The Supreme Court will have 32 working days from November 2 to December 15 and the lawyers think that the review petition may be disposed of within this time.      

Meanwhile, the law enforcers apprehend that the incidents of violence and sabotage will continue to increase with the date of execution of the two approaching closer. In their opinion, the bomb attack on Tajia procession on Friday night has a link with this issue. The followers of the two leaders committed such a crime to create an unstable situation in the country. The law enforcers reached the conclusion on the basis of information received from an accused held in the case for ASI Ibrahim murder at Gabtali.

Sources further said the Shibir cadres have planned to commit several incidents of sabotage in the capital next month. Masud Rana, arrested in Ibrahim murder case told police, “There is a plan led by the amir of Adamdighi Jamaat in Bogra. With a view to implementing this plan, they came to Dhaka with some explosives and arms under the leadership of upazila Shibir president Enamul Haque. After being intercepted on the way Enamul stabbed Ibrahim.”

In drives led on the basis of information received from Enamul, police detained several Jamaat-Shibir men with five bombs. So, the people concerned say, there is a basis of the prior information received about the Jamaat-Shibir sabotage.

BDST: 0943 HRS, OCT 26, 2015
AKA