Who is Kader Mollah
Early and personal life
Abdul Quader Molla was born in the village of Amirabad, Faridpur in 1948. He attended school at Amirabad Fazlul Huq Institute. In 1966, while studying for a science degree at Rajendra College, Faridpur, he joined the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, then known as ‘Islami Chatra Sangha’ (ICS), and was elected as president. He graduated from Rajendra College in 1968, and the following year he enrolled in a Master’s programme at Dhaka University. While studying there, he was elected president of the Shahidullah Hall unit of the Islami Chatra Sangha.[7][10] According to his son ,Hasan Jamil, Molla earned his bachelors degree in international relations from the University of Dhaka.[17] Molla was married to Sanoara Jahan.[18]
Political career
In 1971 leaders of Jamaat opposed the independence movement in East Pakistan, as they believed it went against Islam to break up the Muslim state. As a member of Islaim Chatra Sangha, Quader Molla joined its paramilitary force, Al-Badar, during the liberation war.[7][15][19] But, Bangladesh achieved independence that year. Jamaat was banned from political participation under the new government.
After assassination of the president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 and a military coup, the new government permitted Jamaat to participate in politics again. Quader Molla became active in the party. By 2010 he was assistant secretary general of the party.[15] He was elected to the Bangladesh National Press Club, in recognition of his status.[20]
War crimes trial
In the twenty-first century, the government of Bangladesh established an International Crimes Tribunal to prosecute war crimes that were committed in 1971 during the liberation war. A formal charge was filed by the Prosecution against Abdul Quader Molla on 18 December 2011 in the form of a petition, as required under Section 9(1) of the 1973 Act.[21]
He was charged with abetting the Pakistani army and actively participating in the 1971 Bangladesh atrocities: rape (including the rape of minors) and mass murder of Bangladeshis in the Mirpurarea of Dhaka during the Bangladesh Liberation War. A member of the Rajakar militia during the war, Mollah was charged with killing 344 civilians.[7][11][22] As The Independent reported:
“Abdul Quader Mollah, the assistant secretary-general of Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami party, sparked protests when he emerged from Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on 4 February having been handed a life sentence for his role in the atrocities committed during the 1971 war for independence. He was clearly happy with the ruling – giving a victory sign to supporters outside the court. But critics of the so-called Butcher of Mirpur – who was convicted of of beheading a poet, raping an 11-year-old girl and shooting 344 people – have been left fuming over the sentence, and are calling for him to face the death sentence, like fellow accused Abul Kalam Azad.”[15][23]
Verdict
Under section 20(3) of the Act of 1973, the International Crimes Tribunal announced a verdict and handed down a life sentence to Abdul Quader Molla on 5 February 2013, with an additional 15-year sentence to be served in addition to the time he has been imprisoned since his arrest.[24]
Reaction
Some activists protested and demonstrated, demanding the death penalty and an end to extremism in politics. A major protest started at the Shahbag intersection in central Dhaka.[25][26]Bloggers and online activists called for further mass demonstration at Shahbag intersection.[14][27] Thousands of people joined the protest and the demonstration culminated in the 2013 Shahbag protests.[28]
Since the start of protests, tens of thousands of people have been holding day-and-night vigils at Shahbag, refusing to leave until all those convicted of war crimes are sentenced to capital punishment.[29] A counter protest against the trials and general strike was launched by Jamaat-e-Islami, as most of the accused have been Jamaat leaders.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had initially expressed support for Jamaat-e-Islami, a principal ally in their Four-Party Alliance in the 2000s.[30] The BNP has commented on the Shahbag Protest, warning that the government should not be allowed to draw political mileage from the movement that demanded capital punishment for convicted war criminals.[31]
Responding to the demand of the Shahbag activists, on 13 February 2013, the National Press Club of Bangladesh stripped Quader Molla of his membership.[20] On 17 February 2013, the Bangladeshi Parliament passed a bill amending the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973.[32]
Jamaat members have also led protests against the trials, saying that the government is trying to suppress the opposition. It called for a general strike in Dhaka, shutting down activity in the city.
Death sentence
On 17 September 2013, the Bangladesh Supreme Court found Molla guilty of murders and other war crimes and ordered his execution, converting his life sentence to a death sentence.[16] He was scheduled to be executed by hanging on 11 December at 0:01[33] but later the execution was suspended until further notice.[34] The execution order was signed on 8 December. Prisons chief Main Uddin Khandaker then said that all preparations for the execution and that Mollah’s family had been asked to meet him prior to the execution. Molla also rejected appealing for a presidential pardon.[35] His lawyers said that he had a “constitutional right” to appeal, which was when the stay was granted. Following two hours of hearings, Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain adjourned the hearing till the next day. Amongst the defence’s arguements was that the state was proceeding with preparations for the execution without completing all necessary legal procedures.[36]
Quader was hanged to death on 12 December 2013 at 10:01 pm.
The Appellate Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court, which raised Molla’s life sentence to a death penalty, rejected his petition to review the ruling.[37] Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said that the government would decide on a new execution date as “there are no more barriers to execute Quader Mollah. There is no chance of any confusion.” His lawyer, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, added that “my client has been deprived of fair justice. But since the highest court has made the decision, we have nothing more to say.”[38] His execution could occur within three to four weeks, unless the party appeals for a pardon.[39]
Still violent protests occurred in parts of the country as his party’s activists clashed with police in Chittagong, Sylhet and Rajshahi, while in Laxmipur district security forces opened fire to disperse protesters causing three deaths and 15 injuries.[38]
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Quader_Molla
