Bangladesh Court Upholds Death Sentences on Sheikh Mujib Murder

Around 1,000 people squeezed inside the packed courtroom, while 10,000 more gathered outside to hear the final verdict in a case that has haunted the South Asian nation for decades. Slogans like 'Long live Bangladesh, Long live the Friend of Bengal' -- referring to Mujibur Rahman -- dominated the scene outside the court.

The crowd welcomed the court's verdict. A man said: "This shows that justice prevails, sooner or later. We warmly welcome this decision and we are looking forward that this is implemented as soon as possible."

An eyewitness remembers

Rahman’s daughters Sheikh Hasina, the present Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Sheikh Rehana survived the carnage because they were abroad. Muhitul Islam, the Resident Attendant of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who filed the murder case against the army coup, was an eye-witness to the murder.

"He was in his room and we were kept downstairs. There was shooting going on all the time. We could hear his voice for a while but suddenly some army men went upstairs and then his voice was lost amidst a burst of gunfire. One by one they killed the whole family."

An "epoch making" judgement

Sheikh Mujib, as Rahman is known, was the ‘father of the nation’. Syed Anwar Hussain, professor of history from the Dhaka University, said:

"He contributed enormously to the emergence of Bangladesh. In fact he was instrumental in shaping and developing the nationalism which was at the root of the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state in 1971."

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam described this judgement as "epoch making". "This judgement will be remembered as one of the greatest trials in the history of mankind," he said.

Defence counsel barrister Abdullah Al Mamun said: "We are looking forward to get the certified copy of the verdict and will appeal against it."

A long wait for justice

Though many people hailed it as a landmark verdict more than three decades after the killing of the independence movement leader on 15 August 1975, Professor Hussain says the case has also demonstrated the weaknesses in the country's legal system.

"Immediately after 1975 the government that came into power and also the successive government up to 1990 were not sympathetic. Moreover the killers were given safe passage out of the country. So the long wait for 34 years has been a bad testimony to the kind of law and order situation in Bangladesh."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her satisfaction at the final verdict. She also asked the people to remain calm as supporters of her party, the Awami League, spilled onto the streets of Dhaka in celebration.

Author: Debarati Mukherjee
Editor: Grahame Lucas