TWO courts in Sylhet and Khulna on Sunday and another in Mymensingh on Monday separately handed down death penalties to 12 people for the gruesome killings of teenage boys Rajon, Rakib and Farhad within few months of the incidents. The barbaric killings shocked the entire nation sparking outcry at all level for arrest and trial of the killers in shortest possible time. The verdicts were essentially served so quickly as the premier has assured for speedy justice to the killers. Capital punishment is the highest cruelty to a convict and yet we welcome the verdicts in these particular cases to put the message to unruly people that such cruelties to minor children or any one will not go unpunished.
People believe that if the government wants and the Prime Minister so desires the court can be so quick, but many raised the question then why the prosecution of the seven murder case in Narayangonj or repatriation of its prime accused from India is so delayed. The case of the son of a ruling party female MP who killed two persons in the city’s New Eskaton few months ago in indiscriminate shooting at the mob is not coming for hearing.
What the people want is speedy trial of all cases, particularly the murder cases but the court is failing to match the people’s expectation. But when the government wants some cases to move fast, they move fast and when some other leaders want to delay some cases it so happens.
It is a good thing that trial has been concluded in the shortest possible time. But when the police or the judiciary does not enjoy the full confidence of the people for obvious politicisation, quick justice is not a guarantee that wrong persons have not been saved. The whole justice system is crumbling. Which is really very worrisome.
