Pro-Awami League lawyers stage silent protest over death sentences

Pro-Awami League lawyers staged a silent protest at the Supreme Court following the death sentences handed down to seven top leaders, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League in a crimes against humanity case.

A group of pro-Awami League lawyers gathered in front of the Advocates' Lounge at the Supreme Court Annex building around 1:30pm on Tuesday, September 15, and protested.

No slogans were heard from them at the time. However, some were heard chanting "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu."

Earlier, the tribunal sentenced seven top leaders, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League to death in a case of crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising. At the same time, 50 percent of the assets of five of them were ordered to be confiscated in favour of the government and distributed among the martyrs and injured of the July uprising.

The verdict was delivered around 12:15pm on Tuesday by the three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by its chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other two members of the panel are Judge Md Manjurul Bashid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

At the very start of reading the verdict, Justice Nazrul Islam thanked the investigating officer of the case, the prosecution, journalists and all others concerned. He also said the case documents amounted to 25 kilograms. He further remarked that the entire verdict could have been read if the accused were present. The chairman of Tribunal-2 then announced what punishment was given to whom under four charges.

The other six death-row convicts are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Wali Asif Inan.