A Dhaka court in its observations in Biswajit Das murder case verdict has cautioned the politicians asking them to be restrained while carrying out any political movement to avoid loss of lives.Judge of Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 ABM Nizamul Haq made the observation on Wednesday while delivering the verdict in the case.
“If political shutdown, blockade and procession continue to be violent then in future we will have to see many more killings like that of Biswajit,” he said.
“This cannot be the desire of any peace-loving patriot,” the judge said.
The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, sentencing 13 people to death and 8 others to life in the case. The murder took place one year and nine days ago.
All 21 convicts were students of Jagannath University and activists of ruling Awami League’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League.
They had beaten and hacked to death Biswajit Das, a tailor based in Old Dhaka on Dec 9, 2012, near Bahadur Shah Park amid the opposition’s blockade.
Judge ABM Nizamul Haq said, “The Biswajit murder is not like other killings. This is exceptional and sensitive in many aspects.”
“This did not take place in the dark of night. Rather, he was killed in broad day light with sharp weapons and iron rods.”
He said murder of innocent people cannot be acceptable.
“In fact, the cruelty of this incident was so severe that it has panicked people. The country’s image was also maligned as this killing was reported in the international media.”
The convicts had also sent out a wrong message at home and abroad about the law- and-order situation in Bangladesh, the judge said in his observations.
“Shocked at the death of Biswajit, his father Ananta Chandra Das wailed and kept hope for justice. His hope has been justified as well documented and trustable evidences were produced. But he will be haunted by the shocking death of his son for life.”
Biswajit had succumbed to the injuries at Mitford Hospital after being hacked by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League during the Opposition blockade.
Mentioning this in the verdict, the judge said, “So, shutdown and blockade callers and their rivals must take care of protecting democracy and uphold the rule of law to free people from apprehensions of all danger to public life, peace and property.”
More than 75 people have so far died during the Opposition’s blockade. Of them, there are pro-blockade and anti-blockade people. In some places, general people have also died.-bdnews24.com
