VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKA #0115/01 0390918
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080918Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9990
INFO RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS DHAKA 000115 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, L/EMP PMCDONOUGH 
DOJ FOR OIA JEFFERY OLSON OPDAT BARBARA BERMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM PHUM BG
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS IN DIPLOMATIC CORPS AFTER 
EXECUTION OF SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN KILLERS 
 
REF: DHAKA 31 
 
¶1. (SBU) Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni 
called in the Ambassador and other COMs January 28  to 
request assistance in apprehending the absconding killers 
of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh and father 
to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  In a hastily-arranged 
meeting the day after the execution of five men convicted 
for their role in Sheikh Mujib's assassination, the Foreign 
Minister presented the diplomatic corps with an aide 
memoire outlining the efforts to bring the assassins to 
justice and a request from the Government of Bangladesh 
(GOB) for "the cooperation of concerned governments in 
apprehending the killers and for implementing the final 
verdict of the court." 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The full text of the Aide Memoire is repeated 
below.  The January 28 gathering is yet another step in the 
GOB's pursuit of the absconding killers. 
 
TEXT OF AIDE MEMOIRE 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Begin text: 
 
On 15 August 1975, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu 
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed, along with 
eighteen members of his family. In addition, twelve 
civilians and a policeman also lost their lives in the 
heinous act. Only Bangabandhu's two daughters - Honorable 
Prime Mininster Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana - survived as 
they were abroad at the time. It was not until 1996 that 
due legal processes could commence, and it took thirty four 
years for justice to be served. During the intervening 
years, except for a brief period, the country was under 
unconstitutional rule with military and quasi-military 
governments in power. 
 
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed on 2 October 
1996 by Mr. A. F. M. Mohitul Islam with the Dhanmondi 
Police Station. On 12 November 1996, the Parliament 
repealed the Indemnity Ordinance of 1975, removing the 
legal obstacle in the way of holding the trial. 
 
Following investigation, submission of charge sheet, and 
framing of charges, the trial court completed its 
proceedings on 8 November 1998, pronouncing death sentences 
for 15 of the accused and acquitting four others. 
 
The hearing of the death reference finally started in the 
High Court on 28 June 2000, about 20 months after the 
verdict of the trial court, and was completed on 30 April 
¶2001. 
 
Judges' embarrassment in the Appellate Division of the 
Supreme Court further delayed completion of the trial of 
the case, which was not heard for a single day during the 
term of the previous government (2001-2006). 
 
A five-member Special Bench began hearing of the regular 
appeals only after the Awami League-led Grand-Alliance 
formed the government following the historic elections of 
29 December 2008. The hearing started on 5 October 2009. 
After 29 days of hearing, the Appellate Division of the 
Supreme Court delivered the final verdict on 19 November 
¶2009. The Appellate Division upheld the High Court's 
verdict of death sentences for the 12 self-confessed 
killers of the Father of the Nation. On 17 December 2009, 
all five members of the Bench signed the final verdict. 
 
Death warrants were issued against Syed Faruk Rahman, 
Mohiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda, A.K.M. Mohiuddin and Sultan 
Shahriar Rashid Khan on 3 January, 2010. All five death-row 
convicts submitted separate review petitions and a special 
four-member Bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme 
Court, headed by Chief Justice Md. Tafazzul Islam, 
dismissed the review petitions on 27 January 2010. Clemency 
pleas were rejected by the Honorable President as well. The 
five convicted killers were executed past midnight of 27 
January 2010, in accordance with the final verdict. 
 
Due process of law, penal provisions, and the Jail Code 
were followed throughout the process and each step of the 
process was transparent and open to public, judicial, and 
Constitutional scrutiny. The verdict was implemented to end 
impunity, reaffirm the rule of law and for delivering on 
the election manifesto of the Awami-League led Grand 
Alliance, for which the people had voted overwhelmingly. 
 
 
Six more convicts are absconding from justice. Bangladesh 
government seeks the cooperation of concerned governments 
in apprehending the killers and for implementing the final 
verdict of the Court. 
 
End text. 
MORIARTY