Bangladesh officers lose appeal in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Murder Case

[MBI Munshi]

Five ex-army officers in Bangladesh have lost an appeal against their convictions for the murder of the country's first president in 1975.

The men, who had been convicted of killing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of current prime minister Sheikh Hasina, now face the death penalty.

Correspondents say the focus is now on finding six others accused over the killings who are living abroad.

The trial began 10 years ago and this was the killers' final appeal.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in 1975, just four years after leading Bangladesh to independence from Pakistan.

BBC News : Bangladesh officers lose appeal

[idune]

Other than appeal to the President, which will be denied for sure, is there any other legal move left for these ex officers?

[eastwatch]

One of the assumed reasons for the coup and killing was that Sk. Mujib and his cronies were going to sell the country. There was a strong rumour that on the Indian Independence Day on 15th August, 1975, he would make an important declaration in Dhaka University that would curb the indepndece of BD into a semi-independent status.

It was said, India agreed to accept the symbols of independence, such as national flag, national song, Parliament, posts of President, PM and Cabinet Ministers, administration etc of Bangladesh. Moreover, India also assured that, the President of BD would have a status equal to the status of Vice-president of India. A Bangla speaker always knows the meaning of a proverb we say SHONAR PATHOR BATI. This offer was the clearest example of that proverb.

But, the defendants' lawyers have failed to prove all these and similar other points. The lawyers have also failed to convince the Judges that it was a military coup and, therefore, the trial cannot be held in a civil court, or there cannot be any trial at all.

All the events before and after the killings showed not only public displeasure, but also their distrust of AL leadership. People were convinced that the country was for sell by them. The killing plotters capitalized on these sentiments and the population were also relieved at that time to see that the precious independence remained intact.

Yes, the independence remains that way. But, people then started to forget the events of those days when more than 300,000 people died of hunger and starvation in 1974. Because of a wrong policy adopted by the govt, US ships full of food turned away from Chittagong without delivering the foods.

1971 War of Independence was responsible for many of the ills, but the ineptitude and greeds of the then political masters were also equally responsible for those. I am a witness to their greeds. It can be said that hungry people would wait for the overeating rich people to vomit, so that they can pick up food from that vomit. This AL regime of 1972 - 75 made us very infamous by getting us a 'Bottomless Basket' title.

Anyway, Sk. Mujibur Rahman was a tyrant after he took power, he became very unpopular at that time. His 'Rakkhi Bahini' killed at lest 35,000 JASSAD Party workers. It was all cold blooded murders. The security forces also killed the arrested SARBAHARA Party (correct?) Chief Shiraj Sikder without trial.

Sk. Mujib boasted in the Parliament, 'Where is Shiraj Sikder now?' It is a very bad expression in Bangla. After his own killing, people started to repeat the same question, 'Where is Sk. Mujib now?'

[EjazR]

^^^ Do you have credible sources to prove these "rumors"?

[leonblack08]

Irrespective of what the reason was,the killing of young Sheikh Rasel and the women were barbaric.So they got what they deserved.

[FireFighter]

Do the Bangladeshi brothers still adore Shiekh Mujeeb and consider him the father of Bangladesh?

[MBI Munshi]

On the night of the coup as the intruders entered house 32 both Kamal and Jamal (sons of Sheikh Mujib) fired on them (killing 3 soldiers) which then resulted in the killing of everyone else in the house including Russel and others. We have become so brainwashed we condone the kidnapping and raping of women by Kamal and the Rakkhi Bahini and also the indiscriminate killing by the AL goons that we weep for that despicable family and condemn the killers who saved the nation from their misrule and injustice.

[MBI Munshi]

Originally Posted by FireFighter

Do the Bangladeshi brothers still adore Shiekh Mujeeb and consider him the father of Bangladesh?

The day he was killed people all over the nation offered each other sweets for celebration on the dictators death. People stopped adoring Sheikh Mujib within 3 years of him taking over power.

[Al-zakir]

Originally Posted by FireFighter

Do the Bangladeshi brothers still adore Shiekh Mujeeb and consider him the father of Bangladesh?

HELL NO

[iajdani]

Originally Posted by FireFighter

Do the Bangladeshi brothers still adore Shiekh Mujeeb and consider him the father of Bangladesh?

Ofcourse we do.. !! Its not only Bangladesh but he was selected the best Benagali in thousands years by the Bengali speaking pepole all around the world by BBC.

[MBI Munshi]

Defence arguments presented on behalf of Lt. Col. Syed Farook Rahman and Lt. Col Mohiuddin Ahmed

Criminal Appeal No.56 of 2007 & Criminal Appeal No. 58 of 2007

Submissions - Khan Saifur Rahman (Senior Advocate)

FULL TEXT –

DeshCalling: Defence arguments in the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Murder Case

[iajdani]

Originally Posted by eastwatch

One of the assumed reasons for the coup and killing was that Sk. Mujib and his cronies were going to sell the country. There was a strong rumour that on the Indian Independence Day on 15th August, 1975, he would make an important declaration in Dhaka University that would curb the indepndece of BD into a semi-independent status.

It was said, India agreed to accept the symbols of independence, such as national flag, national song, Parliament, posts of President, PM and Cabinet Ministers, administration etc of Bangladesh. Moreover, India also assured that, the President of BD would have a status equal to the status of Vice-president of India. A Bangla speaker always knows the meaning of a proverb we say SHONAR PATHOR BATI. This offer was the clearest example of that proverb.

But, the defendants' lawyers have failed to prove all these and similar other points. The lawyers have also failed to convince the Judges that it was a military coup and, therefore, the trial cannot be held in a civil court, or there cannot be any trial at all.

All the events before and after the killings showed not only public displeasure, but also their distrust of AL leadership. People were convinced that the country was for sell by them. The killing plotters capitalized on these sentiments and the population were also relieved at that time to see that the precious independence remained intact.

Yes, the independence remains that way. But, people then started to forget the events of those days when more than 300,000 people died of hunger and starvation in 1974. Because of a wrong policy adopted by the govt, US ships full of food turned away from Chittagong without delivering the foods.

1971 War of Independence was responsible for many of the ills, but the ineptitude and greeds of the then political masters were also equally responsible for those. I am a witness to their greeds. It can be said that hungry people would wait for the overeating rich people to vomit, so that they can pick up food from that vomit. This AL regime of 1972 - 75 made us very infamous by getting us a 'Bottomless Basket' title.

Anyway, Sk. Mujibur Rahman was a tyrant after he took power, he became very unpopular at that time. His 'Rakkhi Bahini' killed at lest 35,000 JASSAD Party workers. It was all cold blooded murders. The security forces also killed the arrested SARBAHARA Party (correct?) Chief Shiraj Sikder without trial.

Sk. Mujib boasted in the Parliament, 'Where is Shiraj Sikder now?' It is a very bad expression in Bangla. After his own killing, people started to repeat the same question, 'Where is Sk. Mujib now?'

There are few things I need to add or differ.

1) If he wanted to sell BD to India, he would not have adopted BAKSAL. BAKSAL was not a Indian formula even USSR was reluctant to endorse this.
2) Regarding the Dhaka University rumor is just a propaganda spread to the the lower level soldiers so that they accompany the conspirators. It has no basis.
3)if important declaration in Dhaka University had a substance then they would have waited for that and kill him on 16th August, so that mutiny could be sold well to the nation.
4) He was in power only for 2 years 1973-75. So the comment on his misrule is just another exeggeration. Even our last caretaker govt ruled the country for 2 years under emergency. And we spent decades under martial law.

[iajdani]

Dhaka shares rebound sharply on SC verdict

Dhaka stocks rebounded sharply on Thursday after the Supreme Court's verdict that upheld death sentences to convicted Sheikh Mujib killers lifted up investors' mood.

The investors snapped up Grameenphone and banking shares in a hectic afternoon trading when news came that the country's highest court rejected the appeals of the ex-army officers, paving the way for their execution within months.

The DSE general index (DGEN) shot up 66.96 points or 1.64 per cent to end at 4144.74 as most of the banks gained and the country's largest mobile phone operator rose nearly six per cent.

"With this verdict, the investors have heaved a sigh of relief. The judgment has removed a long-standing irritation in our national polity, resulting in a bullish mood among investors," stock expert Yawar Sayeed said.

The GP shares, which made debut on Monday, dragged the market down in the first hours but it sharply recovered in the afternoon as investors betted on the company's strong fundamentals.

Grameenphone, also the country's largest mobile phone operator, closed the day at Tk 164.00, or 5.5 per cent higher than the previous day, after opening at Tk 158, which is 2.3 times more than its reference price.

"Rally in stock prices of financials and GP has sent the market into positive territory, especially after the verdict" said Ahmed Rashid, a leading stock broker and a former senior vice president of the DSE.

"However, GP's volume of trade was lower than the previous trading sessions. This is because most of the investors who won shares in the IPO lottery are yet to go for sale on hopes that the price will rise further," said Rashid.

The broader All Shares Price Index (DSI) gained 52.97 points or 1.56 per cent to 3436.36 while DSE-20 Index (DS20) comprising blue chips finished at 2364.55 with a rise of 28.28 points or 1.21 per cent.

Majority of stock prices increased as out of 227 issues traded, 164 went into the positive territory, 61 ended into the negative and two remained unchanged.

The day's volume of transaction remained almost unchanged as it stood at Tk 8.62 billion, an increase of 5.50 per cent over the previous session's Tk 8.17 billion.

Social Investment Bank Ltd (SIBL) topped the turnover list, dislodging GP that ruled trading for three consecutive days after its debut.

Shares of SIBL worth Tk 389.84 million changed hands, followed by AB Bank Tk 359.25 million, Titas Gas Tk 276.57 million, GP Tk 256.33 million, Beximco Tk 244.07 million and Premier Bank Tk 221.82 million.

The banking issues continued to climb up following an array of good third quarter results. The sector, considered the bellwether of the market, advanced 2.04 per cent.

Most of the non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs), mutual funds, pharmaceuticals and energy issues nudged higher.

Cement sector was the big losers on profit taking by investors.

All general insurance companies, except one, edged higher while life insurance companies ended the session mixed. All Beximco subsidiaries except Shinepukur advanced.

Saiham Textile was the largest gainer, posting a rise of 17.17 per cent as the company's share trading resumed after a single day suspension due to book-closure.

Other leading gainers were Prime Textile, Savar Refractories, First Lease International, All Textile, Islamic Finance and Midas Finance.

Zeal Bangla, Gemini Sea Food, CMC Kamal, Metro Spinning, Mithun Knitting, Samorita Hospital, Tallu Spinning and Jamuna Oil were the major losers.

[MBI Munshi]

Have read the opinion of the court and it seems really weak. I put up the judgment on my blog 'DeshCalling' so anyone can compare the legal arguments and the findings of the court.

When Mujib died on the 15th the country continued as normal on the 16th. The country was releived to get rid of the tyrant.

[leonblack08]

Originally Posted by FireFighter

Do the Bangladeshi brothers still adore Shiekh Mujeeb and consider him the father of Bangladesh?

What he did for our independence is unquestionable.So I respect him for leading us to independence and yes I do consider him as the father of the nation for that.

What is questionable is that the way he ruled the country after independence.