FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS IN DIPLOMATIC CORPS AFTER

UNCLAS DHAKA 000115 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, L/EMP PMCDONOUGH DOJ FOR OIA JEFFERY OLSON OPDAT BARBARA BERMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM PHUM BG SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS IN DIPLOMATIC CORPS AFTER EXECUTION OF SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN KILLERS REF: DHAKA 31 ¶1. (SBU) Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni called in the Ambassador and other COMs January 28 to request assistance in apprehending the absconding killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh and father to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In a hastily-arranged meeting the day after the execution of five men convicted for their role in Sheikh Mujib's assassination, the Foreign Minister presented the diplomatic corps with an aide memoire outlining the efforts to bring the assassins to justice and a request from the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) for "the cooperation of concerned governments in apprehending the killers and for implementing the final verdict of the court." ¶2. (SBU) The full text of the Aide Memoire is repeated below. The January 28 gathering is yet another step in the GOB's pursuit of the absconding killers. TEXT OF AIDE MEMOIRE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Begin text: On 15 August 1975, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed, along with eighteen members of his family. In addition, twelve civilians and a policeman also lost their lives in the heinous act. Only Bangabandhu's two daughters - Honorable Prime Mininster Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana - survived as they were abroad at the time. It was not until 1996 that due legal processes could commence, and it took thirty four years for justice to be served. During the intervening years, except for a brief period, the country was under unconstitutional rule with military and quasi-military governments in power. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed on 2 October 1996 by Mr. A. F. M. Mohitul Islam with the Dhanmondi Police Station. On 12 November 1996, the Parliament repealed the Indemnity Ordinance of 1975, removing the legal obstacle in the way of holding the trial. Following investigation, submission of charge sheet, and framing of charges, the trial court completed its proceedings on 8 November 1998, pronouncing death sentences for 15 of the accused and acquitting four others. The hearing of the death reference finally started in the High Court on 28 June 2000, about 20 months after the verdict of the trial court, and was completed on 30 April ¶2001. Judges' embarrassment in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court further delayed completion of the trial of the case, which was not heard for a single day during the term of the previous government (2001-2006). A five-member Special Bench began hearing of the regular appeals only after the Awami League-led Grand-Alliance formed the government following the historic elections of 29 December 2008. The hearing started on 5 October 2009. After 29 days of hearing, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court delivered the final verdict on 19 November ¶2009. The Appellate Division upheld the High Court's verdict of death sentences for the 12 self-confessed killers of the Father of the Nation. On 17 December 2009, all five members of the Bench signed the final verdict. Death warrants were issued against Syed Faruk Rahman, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda, A.K.M. Mohiuddin and Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan on 3 January, 2010. All five death-row convicts submitted separate review petitions and a special four-member Bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Md. Tafazzul Islam, dismissed the review petitions on 27 January 2010. Clemency pleas were rejected by the Honorable President as well. The five convicted killers were executed past midnight of 27 January 2010, in accordance with the final verdict. Due process of law, penal provisions, and the Jail Code were followed throughout the process and each step of the process was transparent and open to public, judicial, and Constitutional scrutiny. The verdict was implemented to end impunity, reaffirm the rule of law and for delivering on the election manifesto of the Awami-League led Grand Alliance, for which the people had voted overwhelmingly. Six more convicts are absconding from justice. Bangladesh government seeks the cooperation of concerned governments in apprehending the killers and for implementing the final verdict of the Court. End text. MORIARTY