Yet again, the president has granted mercy to convicted killer AHM Biplob in two murder cases, reducing his life sentences to 10-year imprisonment in each case.
Biplob is the son of Abu Taher, an Awami League leader and mayor of Laxmipur municipality.
Earlier in last July, Biplob was pardoned by President Zillur Rahman in advocate Nurul Islam murder case, in which he was given death sentence.
A home ministry source said Biplob was given life term in BNP activist Kamal murder case of 2001 and Shibir activist Mohsin murder case of 2000.
On February 8 this year, the ministry issued a letter stating that the president being kind has reduced the life term convictions of AHM Biplob (inmate no-2009/A) to 10 years rigorous imprisonment, effective from the date of jail warrant.
The president has also pardoned another convict in one of the two murder cases, shortening the convict’s life sentence to seven years in jail, ministry sources said.
Biplob and Babor are now serving their jail sentences in Laxmipur jail.
Biplob was convicted in all the three cases in his absentia and he surrendered before a court on April 6 last year, after being on the run for more than 10 years.
His father then filed mercy petitions to the president, following which the president granted him mercy in Nurul Islam murder case, a home ministry source said, requesting anonymity.
The incident drew widespread criticisms from different sections, including rights groups, legal experts and the media.
Babor, who was the secretary of Laxmipur Chhatra League, was given the life sentence in 2004, said his brother Saiful Hasan Palash, himself the president of Laxmipur Jubo League.
Their mother Nurjahan Begum appealed to the president last year for clemency, Saiful told The Daily Star over the phone.
According to constitutional provisions, the president shall have power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.
VICTIMS’ FAMILY REACTIONS:
“We cannot just accept it. Where will common people go if the president pardons a killer on political grounds,” said Md Kamal, a nephew of slain Mohsin, also a prosecution witness.
Contacted by The Daily Star, relatives of Kamal expressed “inability” to comment, saying the accomplices are already threatening them and giving them a hard time.
THE KILLINGS
On September 18, 2000, advocate Nurul Islam, the then organising secretary of Laxmipur BNP, was abducted and hacked to death by Biplob and his associates.
The Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal of Chittagong on December 9, 2003 condemned five people, including Biplob, to death for the murder.
BNP activist Kamal was killed by Biplob and his accomplices in October 2001 at the victim’s house in front of his parents.
A Speedy Trial Tribunal in Chittagong gave death sentences to Biplob’s two brothers — Salahuddin Tipu and Abdul Jabbar Lablu — and life sentence to Biplob and their father Abu Taher and three others — Khalek, Babor and Marju.
High Court later relieved all but Biplob and Khalek of their charges.
Shibir activist Mohsin was beaten to death on September 5, 2000, near Adarsha High School in Laxmipur.
In a case filed with Laxmipur Police Station, Biplob, Lablu, and Babor were sentenced to life term in prison.