Dhaka Bureau: Today is the fateful 3rd of November. Mourning Jail Murder Day. A painful and shameful day in the history of independent Bangladesh. This day is the second scandalous chapter after the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family. In 1975, the defeated forces carried out a hellish massacre in history to take over the independent sovereign country of Bangladesh. Three and a half years after independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu was brutally murdered with his family in the early hours of August 15. Two and a half months after this, four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, the first interim president of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad, cabinet member Captain M Mansoor Ali and AHM Kamaruzzaman were brutally murdered in a solitary cell of Dhaka Central Jail at midnight on 3rd November 1975. The enemies of the independence and liberation war of 1971 did not just shoot these four national leaders, the best children of the country, but like cowards they stabbed the bodies with bayonets and killed the defeat of 1971. Bengalis were held back from the progress of progress-prosperity. Not only the people of Bangladesh, but the whole world was shocked by this cruel massacre of history. Such brutal killings while in the safe haven of prisons are rare in world history.
The nation will forever remember these four leaders for forming the Mujibnagar government, formulating policies and tactics, administrative activities, conducting the liberation war and providing the right direction to the countrymen in the absence of Bangabandhu. The assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu and four national leaders was a continuation of the same conspiracy. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, the conspirators led by Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed offered four national leaders to join their government. But the four national leaders who were close associates of Bangabandhu rejected the proposal with disgust. Then they were brutally killed.
Tajuddin Ahmad, one of the four national leaders, realized during his imprisonment that the killers would not let him live like Bangabandhu. The family members went to meet the country’s first Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed who was imprisoned in the Central Jail a few days before the November 3 jail murder, i.e. in the last week of October. Tajuddin Ahmad said to them, “Don’t keep us alive anymore.” I saw Mujib Bhai (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) in my dream. Bangabandhu hugged me and said, “Tajuddin, come away, I have known you since 1944.” Since then we have been together, now I don’t feel good without you.” His daughter Simin Hossain Rimi MP also wrote about this in the book ‘Amar Chhota Bela 1971 and Baba Tajuddin Ahmad’.
The day after the jail murder, the then Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (DIG Prisons) Kazi Abdul Awal filed a murder case at Lalbagh police station. However, for 21 years, the investigation and trial process of this murder was closed. After coming to power in 1996, the Awami League government revived the process of prison murder cases. Then, after more than eight years of trial, on October 20, 2004, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court announced the verdict of the case. Among the 20 accused, 15 former army officers were convicted and five others acquitted in the verdict. Among those convicted, three absconders were sentenced to death and 12 others were sentenced to life imprisonment. Those sentenced to death are Risaldar Muslim Uddin alias Hiran Khan, Dafadar Marfat Ali Shah and LD Dafadar Md. Abul Hashem Mridha. Those who were acquitted are—former ministers KM Obaidur Rahman, Shah Moazzem Hossain, late Taheruddin Thakur, Nurul Islam Manzoor and Major (retd) Khairuzzaman. However, four defendants who were sentenced to life appealed against the verdict of the lower court. Colonel (dismissed) Syed Farooq Rahman, Lieut. Colonel (Retd.) Shahriar Rashid Khan, Major (Retd.) Bajlul Huda and Lieut. Colonel (Retd.) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed. After the resolution of the appeal in 2008, a verdict of the High Court only upheld the death sentence of Risaldar Moslem Uddin, who was sentenced to death, Dafadar Marfat Ali Shah and LD Dafadar Md. Abul Hasem Mridha and four accused Lt. sentenced to life imprisonment. Colonel (dismissed) Syed Farooq Rahman, Lieut. Colonel (Retd.) Shahriar Rashid Khan, Major (Retd.) Bajlul Huda and Lieut. Colonel (retd) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed was acquitted from the case. After that, the family members of the national leaders demanded re-investigation and re-trial of this murder from various circles. On November 1, 2013, the retrial process began when the government submitted its brief on the appeal of the prison killing case to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. On April 30, 2017, the final summary judgment of the Appellate Division overturned the 2008 High Court judgment and upheld the 2004 lower court judgment. That is, the absconding three accused Risaldar Muslim Uddin alias Hiran Khan, Dafadar Marfat Ali Shah and LD Dafadar Md. Abul Hashem Mridha was sentenced to death and 12 others to life imprisonment. On this year’s Jail Murder Day, demands have been raised from all sides to unmask the Kushilabs behind the murder of Bangabandhu and four national leaders and bring them to justice through the commission of inquiry.
Speeches of the President and Prime Minister
The president on the occasion of Jail killing day. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages. In his speech, the President said, since Bangabandhu was incarcerated in Pakistan prison, the four national leaders in his absence made an outstanding contribution to turning the liberation war into a people’s war, including managing the administrative activities of the Mujibnagar government, formulating strategic policies and tactics, diplomatic activities, and supervising refugees. Nation will always respect their contribution
Program
Various political, social, cultural and professional organizations including Awami League have taken detailed programs to celebrate the day with due dignity. Among the programs of Awami League, national and party flags will be lowered to half-mast and black flags will be hoisted at Bangabandhu Bhavan and the party’s central office at sunrise on Thursday. At 7 a.m., garlanding of Bangabandhu’s portrait at Bangabandhu Bhavan premises in Dhanmondi. At 7:30 am, wreath laying, Fateha reading, Milad Mahfil and prayer will be held on the graves of four national leaders at Banani Cemetery. Similarly, wreath laying, Fateha recitation, Milad Mahfil and prayer will be held at the grave of national leader Kamaruzzaman in Rajshahi. Besides, a discussion meeting will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center at the initiative of Awami League on the occasion of Prison Killing Day. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader MP in a statement called on all organizational districts, upazilas, union branches of Bangladesh Awami League, leaders, activists, supporters and people from all walks of life to observe Jail Killing Day on November 3 with proper dignity and mourning environment Called.
