US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday said the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah might lead to events, which could derail the next parliamentary election in Bangladesh.
Talking to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the phone, he expressed concern over the violence during recent hartals and blockades, according to highly placed sources.
He welcomed the initiation of a dialogue between the major political parties on the national polls in Bangladesh.
The US secretary of state wanted to know about the trial process of the war criminals, prime minister’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told journalists at the Gono Bhaban.
The PM told Kerry that some trials have been completed following due legal procedures and the government would follow the same in implementing the verdicts of the International Crimes Tribunal, including the one against Quader Mollah.
The US official welcomed the government’s position, added Iqbal.
Asked whether Kerry expressed concern over the move to execute Mollah, Iqbal said, “He [Kerry] just wanted to know about the procedure of executing the verdict.”
The government has no agenda of its own to influence the judicial process as the judiciary is completely independent, insisted Hasina, adding that the government will execute the verdicts as per the judgments.
Kerry also hoped that political parties would stop violence and sit together to reach a consensus on holding the next election as there is no alternative to reaching a consensus on holding a free, fair and peaceful election.
Contacted, US embassy spokesperson Kelly McCarthy said, “I can confirm Secretary Kerry spoke with Sheikh Hasina today [Wednesday] about the current events in Bangladesh.”
Enquired whether the US secretary talked about the pending execution of Mollah, she said, “Before any sentence is carried out, it is essential that the process itself stands up to international standards.”
“We believe that the trials should be fair and transparent, and in accordance with international standards Bangladesh has agreed to uphold through its ratification of international agreements, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” she added.
Meantime, Australian high commission in Dhaka in a statement yesterday expressed concern about the pending execution of death convict Jamaat leader.
“Australia notes the concerns recently expressed by the United Nations special rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers and by the special rapporteur on summary executions regarding the lack of opportunity for appeal or review of the sentence,” said the statement.
It added: “Australia calls on Bangladesh to address these concerns before taking the judicial process further. Consistent with Australia’s universal opposition to the death penalty, Australia also calls on Bangladesh to establish a moratorium on the death penalty.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday called for staying the execution of Mollah.
The European Union and the United Kingdom also expressed concern at the government’s move to execute the war crime convict.
Source: The Daily Star