UNB, Dhaka :
Amnesty International has urged the government of Bangladesh to overturn the death sentence against Motiur Rahman Nizami and all others saying that his death sentence for war crimes will not bring justice to the millions of victims of the Liberation War.
“Bangladesh must overturn the death sentence against Motiur Rahman Nizami and all others. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can never be a way to deliver justice,” said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Bangladesh Researcher.
The London-based global human rights watchdog said the defence team has consistently raised concerns that trial proceedings have not followed fair trial standards.
“The crimes committed during the independence war were horrific, and there’s no question that victims deserve justice. But the death penalty only perpetuates the cycle of violence,” said Abbas Faiz. “The death penalty is not only a violation of the right to life, but it is an irreversible punishment if it leads to execution, and leaves no room to correct any possible judgment errors or fair trial violations from the proceedings.”
All verdicts so far have come against individuals associated with the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party. The ICT has faced allegations of unfair trials from rights groups since it was established – complaints echoed by Nizami’s defence team during the trial, Abbas said.
“The ICT is a unique opportunity for justice and reconciliation in Bangladesh. But in the face of consistent concerns raised by the defence team about the trials not being fair it will only have the opposite effect and create more resentment,” he added.
Previous death sentences handed down by the ICT have led to large-scale street protests, and Jamaat-e-Islami have already called for a three-day national strike (hartal) to protest Wednesday’s verdict.
As of Wednesday, 140 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Bangladesh was one of only nine countries that carried out executions every year between 2009 and 2013.
