The decision of defering verdict in Jamaat Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami’s war crimes case has left the Gonojagoron Mancha and freedom fighters disappointed. The Gonojagoron Mancha sees conspiracy in the deferral.
Expressing dissatisfaction, Gonojagoron Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker on Tuesday said, Jamaat is hatching conspiracy to foil the war crimes trial. He also expressed doubt
over the government’s role in delaying the verdict. “Yesterday (Monday), there was no reaction from Jamaat over the fixing of date for Nizami’s verdict, which indicates that the government has negotiated with the party,” he observed.
Imran H Sarker was talking to reporters at Shahbagh intersection in the capital where they gathered in the morning ahead of the scheduled verdict.
Meanwhile, the Mancha activists brought out a procession from Shahbagh intersection in the evening protesting the decision of the tribunal.
On the other hand, Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, leader of another faction of Gonojagoron Mancha, said: “The defence lawyers made an excuse to delay the verdict. It was cunning move by the Jamaat members.” He also announced a protest rally demanding fast trial of war criminals on Friday.
The activists of the faction also gathered at Shahbagh intersection in the morning ahead of the scheduled verdict.
Meanwhile, several freedom fighters’ organisations gathered in front of the ICT in the morning and raised slogans for the maximum punishment of death penalty for the Jamaat leader. After the announcement of the deferral, they expressed their dissatisfaction. “It is hard to accept that the verdict has been deferred due to the illness of the defendant,” said Ismat Quader Gama, vice chairman of Freedom Fighters’ Central Command.
Dhaka University teacher and former Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Anwar Hossain said that the delay has left them with deep apprehension. Sculptor Ferdousi Priyabhashini, a Birangona of Liberation War, said, “Conspiracy is going on. The verdict of Delawar Hossain Sayedee is also being delayed for more than a year. Now we have suspicion whether any verdict of the war crimes will be executed next.”
