Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla has finally been hanged for his crimes against humanity in 1971, in the first execution of a war criminal in Bangladesh.
An eleventh hour twist on Tuesday night in the course of events saw Molla’s looming execution stopped — for two days.
He walked the gallows at 10:01 Thursday night. An ambulance carrying Molla’s body came out of the Dhaka Central Jail gates at 11:14pm.
According to a police officer, Khilgaon OC Sheikh Sirajul Islam, charged with escorting the ambulance, the body will be taken to Molla’s ancestral home in Faridpur.
In an immediate reaction, Molla’s younger brother Molla Mainuddin Ahmed has said all that the Almighty does is always for the best. “He will be the judge of it.”
Mohammad Ali, conducting prosecutor at the tribunal, said, "In light of the pro-liberation spirit and the values of 1971, I am the happiest person in the world, as well as the conducting prosecutor in this case."
Defence counsel Tajul Islam said, "I have nothing to say about it. The people of the world have spoken on it. I believe Quader Molla was innocent. History will judge this."
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said, “Rule of law has been established through this execution.”
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique said the people were waiting for this.
“This execution finally fulfils their expectations. I hope other war criminals will also be executed through expedited trials.”
Additional Attorney General and a coordinator tribunal’s prosecution team, MK Rahman said justice had been established after 42 years. “We have finally been able to absolve ourselves (from guilt).”
The smiling photograph of the ‘butcher of Mirpur’ flashing a victory sign, following a life sentence by the war crimes tribunal on Feb 5, had sparked off a huge public campaign for his death.
Thousands of youths revolted against the verdict terming it “too light”. Then tens of thousands congregated for weeks at Shahbagh crossway's now iconic Prajanma Chattar in a movement led by Ganajagaran Mancha.
Dubbed as the ‘Bangla Spring’ by Western media as it sparked similar protests across the country and abroad, it called for the maximum penalty of convicted war criminals.
The Jamaat Assistant Secretary General was scheduled to be hanged a minute past Tuesday midnight but a last-minute attempt by his lawyers saw the Supreme Court Chamber Judge stay the execution until 10:30 the next morning.
Molla, who had been readied for his execution on Tuesday, was finally hanged at 10:01pm on Thursday.
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