DHAKA: The outgoing year 2015 was eventful for the nation as the verdicts of three top war criminals were executed for their crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

Followed by the year 2014 when the verdicts of several war criminals passed by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), the year 2015 was historic for the execution.

On November 21 in 2015, war crimes convicts Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury were executed.

Mujahid, SQ Chy execution

On November 21 in 2015, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, both former ministers, were hanged together inside Dhaka Central Jail as President Abdul Hamid rejected their mercy pleas.

On July 17 in 2013, ICT-2 found Jamaat secretary general Mujahid guilty of five out of seven charges brought against him. The tribunal sentenced him to death on three charges.

While On October 1 in 2013, ICT-1 found 65-year-old Salauddin guilty on nine of 23 charges of crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the war.

Kamaruzzman hanged
On April 11 in 2015, war crimes convict Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was executed, becoming the second Jamaat-e-Islami leader to be hanged for war-time atrocities committed in 1971.

Kamaruzzaman (65), assistant secretary general of the party, was hanged at Dhaka Central Jail as he lost all legal battles against the charges of genocide and rape brought against him.

On November 3 in 2014, the Supreme Court Appellate Division upheld the death sentence against Jamaat assistant secretary general.

On May 9 in 2013, the ICT-2, led-by Justice Obaidul Hassan, awarded capital punishment to Kamaruzzaman for his crimes against humanity during the war.

Five out of all seven allegations brought against the Jamaat leader were proved beyond doubt.

Nizami appeal verdict pending
On January 6 in 2016, the Supreme Court appellate division will pronounce appeal verdict of Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami.

On October 29 in 2014, ICT-1 gave verdict awarding death penalty of Jamaat chief for his involvement in crimes against humanity during the war.

Tribunal chairman M Enayetur Rahim awarded death sentence to Nizami in second, fourth, sixth and 16th numbers of charges.

Progress in Narayanganj seven-murder case
Nur Hossain, one of the prime accused in gruesome Narayanganj seven-murder case who fled to India to evade arrest, was brought back to stand trial on November 12.

India handed over the seven-murder accused to Bangladesh through the Benapole border.

On April 30, Narayanganj City Corporation Councilor Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar and five others were found floating dead on river Shitalkkhya after 3-day of their abduction.

Oishee case verdict
A Dhaka court, on November 12 in 2015, handed down death sentence to Oishee Rahman in a case filed for killing father Special Branch (SB) inspector Mahfuzur Rahman and mother Shapna Rahman.

Of the two other accused, Oishee’s friend Asaduzzaman Jony was awarded two years’ jail for providing shelter to her after the murder and fined Tk 5,000, in default, one month’s jail.

Parimal gets life for raping Viqarunnisa student
November 25 in 2015, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Viqarunnisa Noon School and College former teacher Parimal Joydhar to life imprisonment for raping his student on several occasions in 2011.

Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal-4 judge Saleh Uddin Ahmed pronounced the verdict in presence of the convict.

The court also fined Tk 50,000 or, in default, six months more in jail.

Rajon, Rakib murders verdicts
On November 8, six people were sentenced to death and five to various terms of imprisonment for the brutal murders of 13-year old boy Rajon in Sylhet and 12-year-old Rakib in Khulna that sparked mass outrage and protests across the country.

A Sylhet court sentenced four people, including key accused Kamrul Islam, to death  and one other to life term imprisonment for killing Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon.

On July 8, he was brutally tortured to death for an alleged theft at Kumargaon in Sylhet city.

Those sentenced to death in the Rajon murder case are Kamrul Islam, watchman Moyna Miah, Tajuddin Ahmed Badal and Kamrul’s brother Zakir Hussain Pavel Ahmed.

On the same day, a Khulna court awarded the capital punishment to two people, including his former employer for torturing Rakib Hawlader to death.

Rakib was killed on August 3 in Tootpara area of Khulna city as he started working at a different workshop.

Niko, GATCO, Boropukuria graft cases revived

On June 18 in 2015, the High Court (HC) rejected a petition filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of Niko graft case, clearing the way for her trial in the 2007 case.

On September 17, the HC cleared trial of BNP chief Khaleda Zia in Barapukuria coalmine graft case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2008.

On August 5, 2015, the HC rejected two petitions of Khaleda Zia, which challenged the legality of trial proceedings of Gatco graft case, and directed her to surrender before the trial court in two months.

ACC on September 2 in 2007 filed the case under emergency power rule, accusing Khaleda Zia, Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and 11 others.

BDST: 1042 HRS, DEC 28, 2015
RS/RR/SMS