I hope the shame of the incident will be erased from our history through this final verdict
The ruling paves the way for the execution of the five former army officers, who murdered Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with his wife and three sons, on August 15, 1975.
Sheikh Mujib led the country to independence in 1971 after a bloody, nine-month war against Pakistan.
"This verdict has established justice and rule of law in the country," said Syed Ashraful Islam, the Awami League's deputy leader and official spokesman for Hasina's government.
"The prime minister cried after hearing the verdict. She was overwhelmed with emotion.
"Our government will act on this verdict. We'll bring back those other killers who are absconding, no matter where they are and how long it takes. If it requires another 34 years, we'll wait."
The murders were part of a coup to overthrow Sheikh Mujib, as Rahman is known. Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana were abroad at the time.
Sheikh Rehana said she was relieved that the trial had finally concluded and that "justice and truth had prevailed".
"I hope the shame of the incident will be erased from our history through this final verdict," she told online newspaper bdnews24.com.
"Hopefully, none will face such agony and painful memories will fade. May peace exist in the country."
The case against Sheikh Mujib's killers first came to trial in 1996, when 15 men were found guilty and sentenced to death.
Three were acquitted in 2001. Of the remaining 12, five appealed the verdict to the Supreme Court, six are in hiding and one is believed to have died in Zimbabwe.
Loading...
Be the first to comment