The maiden session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday included the names of several politicians convicted of war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War in its traditional condolence motion, placing them alongside deceased state leaders, public figures and victims of recent national tragedies.
The inclusion came during the adoption of the customary motion of condolence observed at the beginning of a new parliamentary session to honour notable figures who died since the last session.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed announced that the list included former Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, Abdul Quader Mollah, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, Mir Quasem Ali and Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.
The name of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a former BNP lawmaker and standing committee member, was also incorporated.
All seven were convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
The charges included genocide, murder, rape and torture.
Nizami and Mujahid served as ministers during the BNP–Jamaat alliance government between 2001 and 2006, while Sayeedi had been elected to parliament.
Six of the accused were executed between 2012 and 2016 after their convictions were upheld by the courts.
Sayeedi, whose death sentence had been commuted to life imprisonment, died in custody in 2023.
Condolence motion in maiden session
The first-day agenda of the newly formed parliament included the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, adoption of the condolence motion and the president’s address.
Following the election of the presiding officers, the House moved to adopt the condolence motion remembering individuals who had died since the last parliamentary session.
The motion included former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, several local and international dignitaries, former presidents and lawmakers, victims of the July uprising and those killed in the Milestone School and College plane crash.
After the initial list was presented, Chief Whip Nurul Islam proposed adding several additional names, including those of Nizami, Mujahid, Sayeedi and Jhenaidah-2 MP Mashiur Rahman.
The Speaker approved the proposal.
Debate over omissions
During the proceedings, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said some names had been omitted from the motion and asked Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher to raise the issue in parliament.
Addressing the House, Taher said the condolence motion had been prepared “unilaterally” and stressed the need for greater caution in the future to ensure parliament functions as a neutral and vibrant institution.
He also cited several additional names and urged that they be included in the motion.
Responding to the request, the speaker said the names mentioned by Taher would be incorporated into the condolence motion.
Additional names added
Later in the session, Chief Whip Nurul Islam proposed including more names, among them Gautam Chakroborty, MA Matin, Mojibur Rahman Monju, Anwarul Hossain Khan and AK Khandker.
Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam also proposed the inclusion of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, Abrar Fahad and Felani Khatun.
The speaker accepted these proposals and confirmed that the names would be added to the motion.
The condolence list also included several individuals who lost their lives during the July uprising, including Abu Sayed, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, Shahariar Khan Anas, Mehdi Hasan Jewel and Farhan Faiyaz.
Motion adopted after tributes
Lawmakers from different benches later spoke on the life and political legacy of Begum Khaleda Zia as well as the sacrifices of those who died during the July uprising.
Following the discussions, parliament adopted the condolence motion.
Before the motion was formally passed, members of parliament observed a minute of silence in memory of the deceased.
Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad then offered prayers seeking peace for the departed souls.