Defence lawyers not satisfied with death sentences of Obaidul Quader and six others

State-appointed defence lawyers have expressed dissatisfaction over the death sentences of seven accused including Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, whose activities have been banned, on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.

International Crimes Tribunal-2 pronounced this verdict on Tuesday. The seven accused sentenced to death are Obaidul Quader, Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, banned Jubo League chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan (Nikhil), and banned Chhatra League central president Saddam Hossain and general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif (Inan). All seven sentenced accused are currently absconding.

State-appointed lawyer Israt Jahan fought the legal battle on behalf of Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Mainul Hossain Khan, Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. After the pronouncement of the verdict she told journalists at the tribunal premises, “I made my utmost effort to get the accused acquitted. As far as it is possible to proceed according to the law, I made my utmost effort by arguing and cross-examining; but the honourable tribunal has given death sentences and life imprisonment to all my four accused on various charges.”

Israt Jahan further said, “As lawyers we are bound to accept the tribunal’s verdict. We do not have the audacity to speak against the tribunal’s verdict. We accept and honour the tribunal’s verdict; but I am not satisfied with this verdict.”

State-appointed lawyer M Hasan Imam fought on behalf of Obaidul Quader, AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Mohammad Ali Arafat. He told journalists, “We tried to the maximum. …Starting from the Second World War we explained everything including the advantages and disadvantages of the principle of command responsibility to the honourable tribunal. Now whether this (argument) of ours has been accepted in the verdict, we will not be able to say without seeing the verdict.”

Clarifying his own position on the verdict Hasan Imam said, “We have no jurisdiction or the audacity to speak against the judgment of the honourable judges. …I have not been able to be satisfied with this verdict.”