State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday alleged that President Zillaur Rahman shown mercy to AHM Biplob as he was given death sentence by a lower court at the interference of Barrister Moudud Ahmed when he was in charge of the law ministry.
"BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed interfered in the investigation and trial of the BNP leader Nurul Islam murder case," he told reporters at his office in the city.
"Moudud, when he was law minister openly interfered into the investigation of the case and its trial in the lower court to award death sentence to Biplob," Hasan said.
"Taking the all interferences of Barrister Moudud into consideration, the president has shown mercy to Biplob," he said, adding "A party which stands on politics of killing and falsehood, has no legal morality to raise question on the president's mercy.
He said BNP showed the ways of politics of killing in independent Bangladesh. Founder of BNP Ziaur Rahman had set the example of showing mercy to Shafiul Alam Pradhan, the main accused in the seven murder case of Dhaka University, he said.
Dr Hasan expressed his surprise as BNP leader MK Anwar, flanked by Pradhan, was talking against the president's mercy to Biplob at a recent press conference in Dhaka.
Hasan said Zia acquitted more than 12,000 razakars and collaborators of Pakistani Army and hanged 17 army officers who directly fought for country's independence.
"President Zia amended the country's constitution to close all legal ways of trial of Bangabandhu murder case and killing of the four national leaders inside the jail.
He (Zia) also rewarded the killers by giving official postings at home and abroad to patronise the killers", he said.
Khaleda Zia also followed the footprint of his late husband, Hasan said adding that an accused of a double murder case Mohiuddin Jintu was shown mercy by president at the recommendation of Moudud during the past BNP regime.
Moudud also recommended for commuting punishment of Shamsul Alam Tofa, brother of BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, Hasan said, adding, "So BNP has no moral right to raise question about the president's mercy to Biplob.
Source : The Daily Star
