Condemned war criminals Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury were adamant yesterday to consult with their lawyers before deciding on the mercy petition, but the jail authorities maintain that there is no such scope now.
The government explains that now the convicts may consult only with their family members, not lawyers, as they had been informed about the review verdict.
“There is no legal battle in it. The lawyers have no connection with the mercy petition as the convicts need to take the decision on their own and write it down in own hand admitting the crimes, begging for life,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said last night.
“They can consult with the family members only. In that case, the family members may contact the jail authorities for permission,” he added.
Asked if the government had already fixed the tentative time of execution, he replied: “... There is no news … keep your eyes, ears open. Why are you [journalists] are in hurry?”
Earlier in the day, the home minister sat with the IG prisons and the additional secretary and discussed the executions of the two war criminals. Detail of the meeting was not available.
After emerging from a programme in the capital, the minister earlier told reporters that the government would remain within the legal parameters to execute the convicts.
“We will take every step in line with the law. We are yet to get any response about the mercy petition. They may seek presidential mercy,” he said.
The minister also added that the government had taken every precaution to maintain law and order across the country in the aftermath of the executions. “The people have welcomed the rejection of their review petitions,” he claimed.
A source in the Dhaka Central Jail claimed that Senior Jail Superintendent Jahangir Kabir, Jailer Nesar Alam and two deputy jailers met Salauddin and Mujahid from around 11am for an hour.
Salauddin, 66, got excited when the authorities denied his demand of talking with the lawyers, but Mujahid, 69, remained calm, the source said. Both the convicts wanted to see lawyers before their last meeting with the family members.
On Thursday night, the prison officials read out the full verdicts to the convicts. The duo then sought time to think about the mercy petition.
Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Golam Haider yesterday morning confirmed that they would enquire the convicts about their decision again later in the day.
“The death sentences will be carried out if they refuse to seek mercy or if the president rejects their prayers,” he said, adding that all preparations had already been made.
But no jail officials were available for comments later in the day.
Two sons of Salauddin went to the jail last night to file an appeal seeking permission for a meeting between their father and his lawyers. But they could not submit it since the senior jail officials were not present.
One of the sons Hummam Quader Chowdhury said that he wanted to file the appeal as per his father’s request. He hoped that the lawyers would be given the scope to meet Salauddin.
Sources said Salauddin and Mujahid were kept at the condemned cell – Rajanigandha – in two adjacent rooms. Nine prison guards have been on duty in three shifts. The convicts’ movements have been monitoring by CCTV cameras.
The source said that the deputy jailers visited the convicts several times since Thursday night while the jail doctors examined their physical condition two times a day.
A draft list of seven hangmen has been prepared to execute the death sentences.
Since Wednesday, different law enforcement agencies have imposed tight security measures in and around the jail. But additional men were withdrawn last night.
Meanwhile, two of Salauddin’s lawyers went to the jail gate yesterday afternoon and tried to get permission to see him. They left the place after waiting for around four hours.
A five-member team of Mujahid’s lawyers also prayed to meet him but did not get permission from the prison authorities. They had sought permission from the jail authorities around 5:30pm on Thursday.
On Thursday, family members of both Salauddin and Mujahid met them in jail before the top appeals court published the full verdicts.
In earlier instances, Jamaat assistant secretaries general Abdul Quader Molla and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman did not seek the president’s pardon and were eventually hanged.