All law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been put on high alert across the country to foil any subversive activities centring the upcoming verdict by the Supreme Court on the appeals against a special court judgment in the Quader Mollah trial.
Abdul Quader Molla, Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general, was indicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for his involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.
As part of stepping up security measures, a huge contingent of additional forces have been deployed at almost all key-point installations including the Supreme Court, Secretariat, airports, railway stations, lunch and bus terminals, Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, National Shaheed Minar and Jatiya Smriti Saudha.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmood Khandher told the Dhaka Tribune: “The law enforcement agencies are prepared to discharge their duties and face any kind of situation centring the trial verdict.”
He, however, declined to disclose whether they had information of any subversive acts and how many additional forces were deployed.
Additional IGP Moklesur Rahman, also director general of Rapid Action Battalion, said a huge contingent of additional forces had been deployed at almost all key-point installations.
“We are prepared with our forces and full capacity to tackle any untoward situation centring the upcoming verdict,” he said.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, superintendents of police from different districts and chiefs of different units of RAB admitted that they had been asked by their higher authorities to remain alert.
The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce its verdict today on the appeals against Quader Mollah.
Quader Mollah was given a life sentence on February 5 on two of six charges brought against him of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
Convicted of torture, rape, murder and mass killing, he is now in Kashimpur Jail.
Amid strong public demand, the legislature amended the ICT law on February 17 giving the same right of appeal to the government as the defence.
Earlier, only the defence was allowed to appeal against a conviction.
Both the state and the defence lodged their appeals against the tribunal’s verdict with the Appellate Division.
The government appeal of March 3 sought capital punishment while the defence appeal submitted on March 4 petitioned for acquittal.
