The death sentence against BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and all others convicted of war crimes must be overturned, the Amnesty International, a global rights body, said on Tuesday. “The death sentence imposed against a Bangladeshi MP convicted of crimes against humanity is not the way to bring justice to the many victims of the country’s war of independence,” it said in a press release. “The many victims of horrific abuses during Bangladesh’s independence war and their families have long deserved justice but the death penalty is not the answer. One human rights abuse cannot make amends for another,” said Abbas Faiz, Bangladesh Researcher at Amnesty International.
“Bangladesh must overturn the death sentence against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and all others. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel and inhuman punishment and can never be a way to deliver justice.”
Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, six-time Member of Parliament
from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was found guilty of crimes including genocide and torture committed during Bangladesh’s war of independence with Pakistan in 1971.
His family has said that he will appeal the sentence.
“We urge the Bangladeshi government to ensure that Chowdhury’s appeal complies with international law and standards relating to fair trials, and without recourse to the death penalty,” said Abbas Faiz.
“The Bangladeshi authorities must also impose a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty.”
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution.
-With The Independent input
