Preparation is being taken to execute death row convict war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, said Asaduzzaman Khan, state minister for home, this evening.
Talking to reporters following a programme at Shilpakala Academy in the capital, the state minister also said Kamaruzzaman will not be given any more time to seek presidential clemency.
Meanwhile, security in front of the Dhaka Central Jail has been beefed up hours after two magistrates met death row convict war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman today.
Contacted, Deputy Commissioner Mofiz Uddin Ahmed of Lalbagh Division told The Daily Star that the move was made upon orders from higher authorities.
Top officials including the deputy commissioner and assistant civil surgeon are present there.
An ambulance has also been arranged in front of the jail gate and vehicular movement near the jail is also kept restricted.
Contacted, family members of Kamaruzzaman told The Daily Star that they were not officially informed about the move.
Earlier in the morning, two magistrates met condemned war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman in Dhaka Central Jail to ask about his decision on seeking presidential mercy.
State minister for home Asaduzzaman Khan confirmed The Daily Star this afternoon about the meeting and added that he was unaware of its outcome.
“I do not know what he (Kamaruzzaman) told the magistrates,” he said.
Earlier, he had told this correspondent that Kamaruzzaman was yet to decide on whether he will seek the president’s mercy – the only thing that will save him from gallows.
“The government will inquire him again before taking action,” he said. “If he does not say anything even then, then the government will take necessary course of action.”
Around 9:50am, the magistrates went to Dhaka Central Jail in a white car. One of them was wearing a pink shirt and the other cyan blue.
They stayed inside for about an hour and left the prison premises without talking to waiting journalists outside. But, before going in, they said they were magistrates.
“Two magistrates came to the jail for official reasons,” Farman Ali, senior Dhaka jail superintendent, told The Daily Star. He did not say if the work was related to Kamaruzzaman.
Yesterday, the state minister told reporters that magistrates would visit Kamaruzzaman today (Friday) to inquire about his decision on seeking presidential mercy.
Source: The Daily Star
