Sayed Ashraf says "Fugitive killers of Bangabandhu must be hanged"

The ruling Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said here today that death sentences will surely be executed after bringing back the fugitive killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"The government is trying its best to extradite the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu. The process will be remained on until bringing them back and none of killers will be spared," he said after paying rich tributes to the martyrs of August 15, 1975 bloodbath, at Banani Graveyard in the capital city.

Denouncing heavily the August 15, 1975 carnage, he asked all, particularly the leaders and activists of the AL and its front bodies to remain alert to stop recurrence of such heinous acts.

The AL leader called upon all to forge a greater unity to accelerate the country's forward march towards development as it is progressing under the dynamic leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The six fugitives killers of Bangabandhu are Lt. Col. (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt, Col. (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, Lt. Col. (retd) Noor Chowdhury, Lt. Col. (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Capt Abdul Mazed and Risalder Moslemuddin Khan.

Twelve former army officers were handed down death sentences for masterminding and carrying out the August 15, 1975 carnage under a protracted trial process that began in 1996, when Awami League returned to power and scrapped an indemnity act that until then protected these killers from justice.

Five of them, who faced the trial in person or were tracked down subsequently, were hanged on January 28 in 2010 after the apex Appellate Division cleared ways for their execution as they lost their last legal battle.

They were former lieutenant colonel Farookur Rahman, Mohiuddin Ahmed (artillery), Shahriar Rashid Khan and AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed (lancer) and ex-major Bazlul Huda.

Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Office confirmed the natural death of one of the fugitives, sacked Lt. Col. Aziz Pasha, in Zimbabwe in 2001.