Authorities at the Dhaka Central Jail are taking all necesarry preparations for the exectution of death penalty on Motiur Rahman Nizami. Authorities met the condemned war criminal this morning. Nizami also went through a physical checkup. The full copy of the appeal verdict has already been read out to the war criminal.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said that authorities can anytime execute the verdict on Nizami if the war criminal does not seek and get presidential clemency. The full text of the Supreme Court’s (SC’s) verdict in the case of Matiur Rahman Nizami, which dismissed his review plea against death penalty was sent to the central jail authorities yesterday evening.
Hangman’ enters Dhaka jail, security tightened
A hangman has been seen entering the Dhaka Central Jail where death convict war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami is being kept. Security has been tightened around the jail.
A special law enforcing squad took hangman, identified by Mohammad Raju, at the jail gate.
In terms of security, elite force Rapid Action Battalion and police were stationed around the Dhaka jail. Media vans were also at scene streaming live news coverage.
Until now, there has been no word as to whether Nizami, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami that opposed Bangladesh’s birth in 1971, will seek presidential mercy – the last thing that can save him from gallows.
According to Nizami’s family members, one of his lawyers yesterday said his client wouldn’t seek presidential mercy.
Supreme Court’s full verdict, that scrapped Nizami’s review petition against death, reached jail last night. It was read out to Nizami, also known as the infamous ace leader of Al-Badr bahini in 1971.
Yesterday afternoon, the SC released its full verdict that dismissed Nizami’s petition for reviewing his death sentence handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in October 2014 for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.
Sunday night, Nizami was shifted to Dhaka Central Jail from Kashimpur prison in Gazipur amid tight security.
Previously, Jamaat leader Mohammad Kamaruzzaman was executed five days after the dismissal of his review plea while another Jamaat leader, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury were hanged three days after the apex court rejected their review petitions.
Nizami was the president of Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha from 1966 to September 1971 and ex-officio chief of Al-Badr.
He masterminded the formation of the militia that unleashed terror on peace-loving Bangalees, killed unarmed civilians, raped women and destroyed properties during the 1971 Liberation War.
On May 5, a four-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha dismissed the review petition filed by Nizami, paving the way for the execution of the verdict.
Govt ready to execute Nizami: Home minister
The government is fully prepared to execute the death sentence of convicted war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said today.
The death sentence would be executed anytime if Nizami does not seek mercy, the minister told media at the ministry this afternoon. “The necessary preparation for the execution is going on.”
While asked about the time of execution, Kamal said, “Wait, you will see.”
Hanging to remain as highest punishment: Anisul
Law Minister Anisul Huq has said that death sentence will remain as the highest punishment for crimes against humanity in Bangladesh and that it will continue war crimes trial. He made the remarks after a courtesy meeting with the visiting Swedish Law Minister at secretariat today.