The nation mourns the brutal prison (Jail) killing. Killing is a heinous act, which is forbidden in all religion. It spoils civilization and distort humanity. In Bangladesh, 1975 became the year of killing leaders. In August, the father of the nation Bangabandhu was brutally killed with his family members.
And in November, four other national leaders were killed. These killing were fatal, very inhuman and heart rendering in the history of nation as well as the world. It cannot be accepted by any civilized society. This is indeed the black tragedy for which the nation always mourns it, raise strong protest against such stupid and nonsense activity and express vehemently hatreds.
The conspirators and the enemies of independence tried to banish the Awami League and Bangladesh through the brutal 15 August and 3 November killings. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who could survive the killing for staying abroad, came back to Bangladesh in 1981 and took the responsibility of reorganizing the Awami League.
The killers had several attempts to kill Sheikh Hasina but they were not successful. Rather by her leadership, the Awami League came to power after long 21 years. Sheikh Hasina is not only a leader of Bangladesh but has is also proclaimed as a world leader.
One has to admit that the brutalities committed on November 3, 1975 and the official inaction in the aftermath coupled with the reward of the malefactors responsible for the gory assassination have left a deep imprint on the national psyche. This historical perspective cannot be lost sight of.
The fact of the matter is that the four slain leaders, namely Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, AHM Kamruzzaman and Captain Mansur Ali, were no ordinary men because for them public service was more important than life itself. They had immense concern, were exceedingly interested in public welfare, and demonstrated their will to fight valiantly for justice.
The four leaders all were tested. They did not compromise with any injustice and undue. They all had the philosophy to build a good, self-reliant, happy and prosperous Bangladesh. Being inspired by the selfless ideology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, they all maintained the highest honesty, sanctity and above all the patriotic felling. We are pained because of their brutal murder.
They were the favorite political leaders whose personalities were so amiable that they were liked by each one of us. After 41 years, it is indeed difficult to believe that they are no more among us.
Between 1975 and 1996, the investigation could not commence due to establishment indifference, and consequently many relevant supportive papers and direct evidence just disappeared much to the prejudice of the prosecution.
Some of the jail employees of the relevant period had been located from different places around the country after prolonged efforts, and the complainant of the incident, the very old former DIG Prison was traced from Sandwip Island to prove the FIR.
Some old files had been retrieved from the prison records but copy of the inquest and the post mortem reports of the slain leaders could not be traced. The then establishment instituted a Judicial Commission after the incident but the said Commission could not complete their inquiry. The relevant file regarding this Commission could not be traced at the ministry as some interested quarters were suspected to have caused its disappearance.
Admittedly, the investigator's job was made very difficult. The misguided soldiers who committed the atrocities were rewarded with diplomatic postings. The job of tracing them and bringing them under the law was an overwhelming task. These accused persons were staying in "Bangabhaban", the seat of power, and from there they proceeded to Dhaka Central Jail to commit the massacre.
After a lapse of so many years, it was extremely difficult to trace the relevant files in these sensitive places. Equally difficult was locating important exhibits from Radio Bangladesh.
Despite all the odds, encumbrances and limiting factors, the case ended in a charge sheet against 21 accused persons including 14 absconders.
The trial Court awarded death sentence to three accused and sentenced 12 to life imprisonment, thanks to the mind exacting and gritty investigation of Abdul Kahhar Akand, the then Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police. The trial was held in the ordinary Court of Law where defense enjoyed all the statutory privileges.
Their death is truly a loss to humankind, which sorely needs the living light of those ideals of love and tolerance for which they strove and died. In our hour of deep sorrow, Bangladesh is proud to have given to the world men of their imperishable renown and we are confident that their example will be a source of inspiration and strength.
Dr Rupak Bhattacharjee has aptly said: "The brutal killing of four national leaders in captivity constitutes one of the darkest chapters of Bangladesh's turbulent political history." Jail Killing Day is one of the darkest episodes of our nation. The nation lost few of the best of our leaders on that day. Yet after all these years, we still have not done anything to bring the culprits to justice, shame on us." Their death is also world loss.
After the killing of the father of the nation, the conspirators were continuing coup, counter coup, making the politics mostly unstable, and above all creating anarchy, chaos, conflicts and confrontations in the society. The anti independent and anti-liberation enemies did not accept our sovereignty and independence.
So, all patriotic people must be united with the spirit of liberation war and must face all ill design and root out the evil and all blue printers from society. There are flatterers within the party also who exploit our leader. They should be identified warned and driven out. These ugly & unfair games need to be stopped. For these killings, the nation had to pay a lot. The loss is irreparable. So it is better late than never.
Time has come that present leaders must be tested and must earn hundred percent confidence with the patriotic feeling. Moreover, the leaders must be loyal to the Honorable Prime Minister and on her leadership. The prison killing until today appears before us with much of pain and panic.
It was so fearful and dreadful that normal life came to a halt. It trembles the inner world and gets a man or woman dry by moments. Many questions are still far behind which are yet to be published.
The writer is a researcher and columnist
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