Bangladesh on high alert ahead of Mujibur appeal verdict

Nov 16, 2009, 12:11 GMT

   Dhaka - Authorities on Monday put law enforcement agencies across Bangladesh on high alert ahead of the final verdict in the trial over the assassination of the country's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a minister said.

   'The lawmen have been asked once again to strengthen security across the country to avoid any awkward situation,' Home Minister Sahara Khatun said after a meeting reviewing the security situation ahead of the Supreme Court's verdict on the politically sensitive case expected for Thursday.

   Home ministry officials said more than 24,000 additional security personnel including police officers and members of the paramilitary forces are to be deployed.

   A security net has been put in place at key locations such as the Supreme Court, universities or administrative and traffic hubs to ward off any possible acts of sabotage, a senior police officer said.

   Sheik Mujibur, Bangladesh's independence hero, was assassinated along with most of his family on August 15, 1975 by a group of disgruntled army officers.

   The assassination was indemnified by subsequent rulers, and a murder case was filed only after Mujibur's eldest daughter, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, became prime minister in 1996.

   Fifteen officers were originally sentenced to death, but a higher court later acquitted three of them. Seven of the alleged culprits fled abroad.

   The trial stalled for years after Hasina lost power in 2001, but resumed with her Awami League returning to power earlier this year and the Supreme Court is expected to rule on appeals lodged by the five remaining defendants.

   However, that process has been overshadowed by violence. Chief state attorney Mahbubey Alam in October received a death threat, warning him not to pursue the politically sensitive case. In the same month, a bomb attack aimed at Awami League party lawmaker Fazle Noor Tapash, a relative of Mujibur, injured 13.

   Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed said Monday he hoped that the top court's verdict would help ensure the rule of law in the country.