“Quader Molla will be hanged today,” Baten told his colleague Abdul Awal around 7pm.
Baten and Awal are the security guards at a Dhanmondi shopping mall, Orchard Point. Baten just came to know from a radio news that Molla’s appeal for reviewing his death sentence for crimes against humanity committed in 1971 had been rejected.
Baten had borrowed Awal’s cell phone to listen to the news and they looked happy.
“Criminals must face justice,” said Awal, who was 8 years old in 1971 and could still recall moments when he had seen dead bodies on the bank of the river Someswar.
Awal was 8 in 1971 had gone to his sister-in-law’s house in his home district Netrokona’s Kalmakanda safety. The reason for moving to his sister’s was: “Let us die together.”
“It is the right move. It should have been done long ago,” said Awal.
They did not want to comment further on the issue given the political abuse of the country’s Independence War. They said they would rather wait and see than commenting.
Like them city dwellers hold their breath as they anxiously wait for the first ever execution of a Razakar, Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla who is known as the Buther of Mirpur, amid tight security.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were seen patrolling the Mirpur road in a motorcade of six Jeeps around 7pm. Police and Rab were also seen patrolling streets in car, motorbikes and microbuses.
“The loss the country has suffered over the matter (War criminal’s trial) would go waste if the war criminals are not executed,” said Baten.
“The country should choose the right path,” said Roku, a shop attendant who just came out of Orchard point.
Traffic on the city streets looked normal as more people came out yesterday.
“Criminals must be punished,” said Rana, ticket counter manager at AK Travels office in Panthha Path.
“Violence occurs in this country anyway. It is better that we get something out of the violence this time,” said Joy Jubanni, a businessman in New Market.
“We can bear strike for something that brings good.”
Molla’s execution was debated among students in their evening friendly meeting on BUET and Dhaka University campus. They undoubtedly want war criminals’ trial.
Many were afraid of apprehending Jamaat reprisal following the trial.
Most of the people don’t have a clear idea about the tribunal. Many know more about tribunal’s controversy than crimes committed by those already convicted.
“Razakars in all parties should face the trial,” Md Ikramul Hoque, garment worker.
A Dhaka University Social Science student Sabid said the last minute stay of Molla’s execution outsmarted even a dramatic film sequence.
“How a decision to hang can be postponed last minute?”
A businessman from Kaptan Bazar Muhammad Humayun came to the Jail Gate around 8pm.
“I am Happy. I have come here to see how things are going.”
The scene was pretty spectacular with electronic media journalists standing on a number of elevated podium built in front of the jail gate.
Police check posts were set up at Chalkbazar, Chankharpul and Armanitola intersection to restrict traffic on roads leading to the jail, except for newsmen and ambulances.
Shahbagh was reverberated with slogans.
“What is the news of the day? Mirpurer Kosai will be hanged. He killed a lot and raped too,” the slogan continued through loudspeaker.
