Shohagpur, a village in Nalitabari upazila of Sherpur, where Kamaruzzaman killed 120 people on July 25, 1971, the man’s death penalty brought solace to the families of victims.
“Only his execution can satisfy the villagers,” Abdur Rahim, a resident of Shohagpur, told our correspondent.
Jamaat-e-Islami Senior Assistant Secretary General, Kamaruzzaman was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday on two of five charges, including the Shohagpur genocide.
People in Shohagpur and in other areas of the district celebrated as the verdict was announced.
Local freedom fighters joined the people in front of television sets to watch live coverage of the verdict. They burst into slogans as the breaking news announced his sentence for the murder of freedom fighters and innocent people in Sherpur and surrounding areas during the Liberation War of 1971.
“This is a historic day for us; we shunned him in the elections and hoped that he would be hanged one day,” freedom fighter Abdur Rashid told our correspondent.
“Sherpur has been rid of the stigma that is Kamaruzzaman,” said Abdul Malek, another Sherpur resident.
Local MP Atiur Rahman Atik and the leaders of Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and other organisations joined the people to celebrate the judgement parading along the streets of the town.
“The people of Sherpur have never picked him as their MP because of his notorious role during the war of independence,” Atik said.
“We want implementation of the judgement as soon as possible,” he said.
Kamaruzzaman has been contesting the national elections from Sherpur 1 since 1991, although he was never elected.
Election Commission records show his votes in the constituency have increased over time.