Parliament adopts condolence motion for 7 war crimes convicts

The 13th parliament has adopted condolence motion for six Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and a BNP leader, all convicted of war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War, during its first session.

On the first day of the session on Thursday, after the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the condolence motion was presented as per the custom after the break.

After the newly elected speaker took the chair, the house observed condolence motions in memory of Khaleda Zia, local and foreign dignitaries, former presidents and former members of parliament, those killed in the July Uprising and the victims of the Milestone School and College jet crash.

Following the introduction of the condolence motion, Chief Whip Nurul Islam proposed adding several more names.

His proposal included Nizami, Mujahid, Sayeedi and Jhenaidah-2 MP Mashiur Rahman. The speaker later approved the request.

Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman then rose to speak, saying some names had been omitted from the motion.

He asked Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher to address the issue, and the speaker gave him the floor.

Taher said the condolence motion had been “made unilaterally” and stressed the need for greater awareness to make parliament “neutral and vibrant” in the future.

During his speech, he mentioned several additional names and demanded that they be included in the motion.

Among those he cited were Nizami, Sayeedi, Abdus Sobhan, Sheikh Ansar Ali, Riasat Ali, Abdul Khaleque Mondal, Hafeza Asma Khatun, Rokeya Ansar, Sultana Razia, Rasheda Khatun, Mujahid, AKM Yusuf, Nazir Ahmed, Kamaruzzaman, Abdul Quader Mollah and Mir Quasem Ali.

Taher also said that in the condolence motion referring to the Shapla Chattar incident, the term “Jamaat-e-Islami” should be replaced with “Hifazat-e Islami”.

Referring to the victims of the July Uprising, he spoke of about 2,000 martyrs and also paid tribute to Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

In response, the speaker said the names mentioned by the deputy opposition leader would be incorporated into the condolence motion.

The chief whip later proposed adding several more names, including Gautam Chakroborty, MA Matin, Mojibur Rahman Monju, Anwarul Hossain Khan and Air Vice Marshal AK Khandker.

He also requested the Parliament Secretariat notify the house if the name of any former MP or eminent individual had been left out.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam then proposed including Hadi, Abrar Fahad and Felani in the motion. The speaker said those names would also be added.

Before the condolence motion was adopted, a minute's silence was observed in the parliament in memory of the deceased and prayers were offered for the forgiveness of their souls.