Bangladesh: Update to BGD38020 of 31 October 2001: Impact of the October 2001 election of a Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNP) government on the prosecution of those former military officers who were indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to death for their involvement in the 15 August 1975 assassination of former Awami League prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

While no reports that specifically refer to the impact of the October 2001 election of a Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNP) government on the prosecution of those former military officers who were indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to death for their involvement in the 15 August 1975 assassination of former Awami League prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, the Bangalore Deccan Herald reported that "it was taken for granted" that those convicted of involvement in the assassination of the former prime minister would be released if the BNP came to power (25 Oct. 2001). A 25 April 2000 Inter Press Service article had previously reported that the BNP had allegedly tried to prevent or delay the death sentences from being carried out.

A 17 February 2002 Daily Star article reported that the hearing for the leave to appeal of the four convicted officers who are in jail would not be held until the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is restructured. The hearing has been pending since August 2001 as a result of a shortage of judges required to hear the petition, and Awami League leaders "have been saying for months that the government has been deliberately delaying the hearing by not appointing a judge on ad-hoc basis for hearing the case" (ibid.).

The Hindu reported that analysts viewed the BNP's decision to cancel the 15 August National Mourning Day as a "major political decision" that could "greatly influence the future course of politics" in Bangladesh (26 Dec. 2001). The Awami League referred to the decision as a "clear step to protect the killers of Bangabandhu" (ibid.), as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was affectionately known (Washington Post n.d.). The Hindu article also stated that "old organisations patronised by the coup plotters of 1975" have begun to re-emerge, and have demanded "the release of all convicted officials from jail" (26 Dec. 2001).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Banglalore Deccan Herald. 25 October 2001. Kuldip Nayar. "Indian Analyst Urges Khaleda Zia to Take Steps to Erase Anti-India Image." (FBIS-NES-2001-1025 26 Oct. 2001/WNC)

The Daily Star [Dhaka]. 17 February 2002. Vol. 3, No. 874. "Case Stalled Till Appellate Divn Restructured." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2002]

The Hindu [Bombay]. 26 December 2001. Haroon Habib. "Khaleda Govt. Cancels Mujib Holidays." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 25 April 2000. Tabibul Islam. "Politics-Bangladesh: Rahman Assassination Politically Hot." (NEXIS)

Washington Post. n.d. "Profile of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman." [Accessed 25 Feb. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

IND Country Assessments

NEXIS

US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

WNC

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

Dawn

Dhaka Courier

Frontline

Human Rights Watch

The Independent

Nation Online

The Tribune