Families of 1971 Liberation War victims and witnesses of war crimes cases were overwhelmed with joy yesterday to know about the execution of war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla. He is the first war criminal to be hanged since the inception of the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010.
They said it was the day when they could express jubilance after the victory on December 16, 1971.
They had been holding breath since long as the trials were shelved for long and recently hindered by many quarters including pressure from international groups that favour Quader Molla.
Poet Kazi Rozi, who testified at the tribunal in Quader Molla case, said: “History never lies.” She gave her statement on the murder of poet Meherun nesa during the Liberation War.
“We, the people, have been waiting for many years for justice. And now we win our war.”
She, however, questioned the rationality of the stay order. “We are not sure what will be their [Jamaat] next conspiracy. I also cannot think about the next days after the execution. They can make our life hell.
“But by watching the execution, I am the happiest woman of the world.”
About the killing she had witnesses, Rozi said: “Everyone knows what Molla did. I can recall after the murder of Meherunnesa, criminals hanged her head from the ceiling fan while Molla helped them.”
Quoting from a poem of Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, Rozi said: “’I have not come here to cry, I am here to demand execution [of the accused].’ Now I have no anger inside me, there is only hatred.”
Around 1pm yesterday, Nusrat Rabbee, daughter of martyred intellectual Dr Fazle Rabbee, phoned the Dhaka Tribune from California, USA. She could not stop crying; obviously, out of joy.
She said: “The victims of the war and the martyred families got relief after 42 years. I was scared enough as international pressure groups were against capital punishment. It is a good sign that we can ignore that.”
“I do not know if it will be possible to send the accused to gallows who killed my father, but every war criminal is our enemy. So the news made my day,” said Nusrat, who testified at the tribunal against al-Badr leaders Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan.
The witness visited Bangladesh in the middle of this year only for three days to give deposition in the case.
When she heard the final order of rejecting review petition of Quader Molla, Nusrat said she was excited. “An unknown fear gripped us since the date of the stay order on execution. Jamaat is hatching conspiracy at every step. You never know how far they can harm you.”
Safiuddin Molla, another witness against war criminal Quader Molla, said it was good news not only for him, but for everyone.
He said: “We are very happy that at last he [convict] is hanged. I am an eye witness who saw rifle in Quader Molla’s hand. He killed more than 300 people including my uncle.
“Today when that man faces death penalty, we feel relieved as justice is ensured in my lifetime,” said the witness.