Repatriation of fugitives, early execution demanded

Staff Correspondent

Different socio-political organisations and individuals expressed their satisfaction over the historic Supreme Court (SC) verdict on the Bangabandhu Murder Case yesterday.

Welcoming the judgement, they sent statements to The Daily Star office.

Chief Whip Abdus Shahid in a statement said the nation got rid of the disgrace and anguish of the last 34 years through the historic declaration of the verdict.

“The verdict takes the country one step ahead of establishing justice and rule of law. The verdict of the SC has been reflected on the whole nation as a milestone of establishing justice,” he said.

Shahid expressed his gratitude and thanks to all the lawyers who fought the Bangabandhu Murder Case for such a long time with due patience and integrity.

He also demanded the government execute the verdict immediately.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua, also general secretary of Bangladesher Sammabadi Dal (ML), also hailed the verdict.

Meanwhile, Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) hailed the SC verdict on the Bangabandhu Murder Case.

In a statement, the forum said the verdict is a historic one and it has paved the way for establishing rule of law in the country.

The grief the nation has been bearing for the last 34 years will perish through the historic verdict, it added.

“SCF thinks that the killing of Bangabandhu within only three years and a half of the birth of this country through a bloody war of liberation was a big conspiracy against the country,” said the statement.

“The conspirators had not only killed Bangabandhu and his family but also denied the liberation war and the sacrifices of the three million martyrs.”

Jatiya Party (Manu) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju in his reaction said the verdict will discourage such killings to grab state power in the third world countries like Bangladesh.

The SC verdict will strengthen the base of democracy in the country and militant activities would be discouraged, he said, adding that those who conspired to delay the trial process of the murder case should be identified.

Gono Forum, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) also welcomed the verdict.

BSD said the verdict would widen the path of trials of all the political murders that have taken place in the last 38 years.

In a joint statement, Supreme Court Bar Association President AFM Mesbahuddin and Secretary SM Rezaul Karim said the verdict has once again proved that no one is above law.

Leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) also expressed their satisfaction over the verdict, saying that the nation has been freed of a long black chapter of the history through the verdict.

Dhaka Court Reporters' Association, Bangladesh Medical Association, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Sammilita Samajik Andolon, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Jatir Janak (Adarsha) Parishad, Democratic Lawyers Association of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Hawkers' League, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Bangladesh Civil Service Trade Association, Citizens' Rights Movement and Sylhet Agriculture University hailed the verdict.

The organisations also welcomed the verdict include Nadi Sangskar Pani Shasan O Babohar Sangram Parishad-Bangladesh, Sammilita Islami Jote, Bangabandhu Lalitakala Academy, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Jatiya Garment Sramik Karmachari League, Bangabandhu Jubo Parishad, Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote, Youth Gono Forum, Amir and Amir Law Associates, Bangabandhu Lekhok Parishad, Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad, Bangladesh Pathnatak Parishad, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad and Bangabandhu Ain Chhatra Parishad.

Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad, Proshika, Human Rights International Bangladesh, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Bangabandhu Adarsha Mullayan and Gobeshona Sangsad, Bangabandhu Shikkha O Gobeshona Parishad, Imarat Nirman Sramik Union Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Diploma Engineers Association, Bangladesh Students' Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree, Muktijoddha Prajanma Command, Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League, Krishibid Institution Bangladesh, Bangladesh Civil Service (Agriculture) Association, Bangabandhu Krishibid Parishad, All Party Parliamentary Group and Bangladesh Polytechnic Teachers Association also hailed the verdict.

They demanded the government bring back the absconding accused as soon as possible, execute the verdict and start the trial of the jail killing case.

Bangladesh Awami Sangskritik Forum paid a rich tribute to the image of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 after the verdict.