Attorney General Mahbubey Alam has expressed his satisfaction over the death sentence awarded by the Supreme Court on Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla and said that there was no scope to file a review petition against the verdict. He also said that the legal process had ended with the appeal verdict and that Molla could only seek mercy from the President. The death sentence by the Supreme Court for Jamaat leader Quader Molla triggered widespread jubilation among the pro-liberation forces across the country.
Soon after the verdict was pronounced by the apex court, he told waiting newsmen on the court premises that they are happy at the verdict. “We are satisfied as the nation has got justice. Without this verdict, the nation would not be free of stigma,” he added.
In his reaction, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said: “This verdict is a milestone. The Appellate Division has given the verdict after analysing every aspect of the law,”
The judiciary has worked independently and there could be no question about the verdict’s acceptability, he added. The law minister said that the verdict has fulfilled the nation’s aspirations. “Quader Molla can now file for presidential clemency,” Shafique Ahmed said adding: “Clemency, in these situations, is usually not granted anywhere in the world.”
The Awami League-led grand alliance also expressed its satisfaction over the death sentence awarded by the Supreme Court on Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Abdul Quader Mollah for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
Shortly after the verdict was pronounced, Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif told a press conference that the people of the country are happy with the verdict. The verdict has been delivered as per the expectation of the people, he added.
He said the people would be delighted, if the verdict would be executed as soon as possible maintaining all legal procedures. “We hope the verdict would be executed within the tenure of the present government,” he said adding that it could be executed within 45 days after completion of all legal procedures.
In this regard, AL presidium member Nooh-ul Alam Lenin said people’s expectations have been reflected through the verdict of the apex court. “With death penalty on Quader Mollah, the Supreme Court set another example of justice and progress by removing a stigma from the nation,” he said.
Echoing Lenin’s point of view, another presidium member of the ruling Awami League Kazi Zafarullah said the government had appealed against the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal that handed down a life sentence against Quader Mollah amid huge pressure from the masses. “Alongside people, AL is also satisfied with the verdict,” he added.
Bangladesh Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said the verdict has met the expectations of the country’s people. In this connection, he further said that Tuesday’s verdict mirrored the movement of the young generation against the February 5 judgment delivered by the ICT.
Expressing similar satisfaction over the Quader Mollah verdict, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) general secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia observed that all war criminals should be awarded the same capital punishment for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of 1971.
Meanwhile, many other politicians, cultural personalities and leaders of various organizations also expressed their joy over the Supreme Court verdict on Quader Mollah and demanded its immediate execution as well as banning of the politics of Jamaat-Shibir in the country.
“People’s expectations would be fulfilled by immediate execution of the verdict. Justice would be served with capital punishment to all war criminals including Quader Mollah who committed despicable crimes against humanity during the War of Independence in 1971,” says Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).
In a joint statement following the verdict, CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim and general secretary Syed Abu Jafar Ahmed also demanded trial of those political parties and forces that were involved in the war crimes. “We demand a ban on Jamaat-Shibir that has been declared as a criminal organisation by the court,” they added.
Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon and general secretary Anisur Rahman Mollik said: “Though it is quite late, people have got justice. The nation has been freed from the debt of the martyrs. The verdict has paved the path for the nation to establish rule of law in the county.” They also demanded immediate execution of the verdict.
President of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu said the verdict has upheld the truth and justice. “Today, Bangladesh took a remarkable step in the world history by delivering a just verdict on Quader Molla who committed crimes against humanity during the 1971 War of Independence,” he added.
Rokeya Prachi, a cultural personality, said: “Today it’s a big victory for us. We have got the justice.” She further said that the souls of the freedom fighters would get peace after the verdict. “It’s a happy day for the mothers who lost their sons, sisters who lost their brothers, wives who lost their beloved husbands during the Liberation War,” she added.
Soon after the news of Molla’s death sentence reached, the activists of the Ganajagaran Mancha distributed sweets at the Shahabagh sqauare.
Imran Sarkar, spokesperson of the Ganajagaran Mancha said that people have got justice and their expectation has been fulfilled. “Ganajagaran Manch came into being following the ICT verdict of life term imprisonment on Quader Mollah for perpetrating crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. We got support not only from our country but also internationally,” he added.
“After this verdict, the people will have more respect for the judicial system of the country. And those who committed crimes against humanity would now know that there is a law to punish them,” he added.
People of Faridpur, the hometown of Quader Molla, also welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict. “After the previous verdict of life sentence, Qader Molla’s display of a victory sign insulted the freedom fighters. Now we are happy,” Noor Md Babul, commander of the Faridpur Muktijoddha Sangshad, said and demanded immediate execution of verdict.
-With The Independent input
