Two Sheikh Mujib killers want death sentence commuted

DHAKA - Two of the five former army officers lodged in prison for the 1975 killing of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have appealed to the Supreme Court to commute their death penalty.

Bazlul Huda and A.K.M. Mohiuddin Ahmed made the appeal through their counsel as the Supreme Court began hearing the petitions filed by the five convicts seeking review of its judgement confirming their death sentence, The Daily Star reported Monday.

Their counsel Abdullah-Al Mamun said his clients have been suffering in condemned cells for long, and they have already been punished greatly.

He said that both his clients have crossed 70 and if the court rejects their review petitions, it can give them any other punishment instead of death penalty considering their old age and long suffering.

The other convicts on death row are Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan and Mohiuddin Ahmed.

Khan Saifur, counsel for Syed Farooq Rahman and Mohiuddin, appealed to the court to consider the feelings of his clients since it is being said every day that they will be executed.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed in a putsch led by serving and former army officers Aug 15, 1975.

On Nov 19 last year, the apex court confirmed death sentences to a dozen ex-army personnel, including the five who have been detained.

Of the seven others, one died and six are on the run. The government has moved the Interpol and the governments in the US, Canada, Libya and Pakistan to get their custody.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is Mujibur Rahman’s daughter, has ignored a plea by Amnesty International, a US-based human rights watchdog that the death sentences be converted into life imprisonment.