Forces’ appointment on deputation needs care

Observes court in its verdict in N’ganj 7-murder case

The court of the district and sessions judge, Narayanganj, Syed Enayet Hossain, has observed that the authorities should be more careful in appointing personnel on deputation.
However, the court said that as an elite force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) cannot be blamed for the crimes as RAB itself did not commit them.
The court made some important observations in the 162-page verdict on the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder case on Monday.
The court said it is matter of serious shame for all government officials and employees and it is also shameful for the whole nation.  
The court observed that as an elite force, RAB cannot be blamed for the crimes of some of its members who had committed the heinous crimes for their personal benefits only.
"Our heads come down when a notorious criminal like Nur Hossain can make contact with some high government officials. It also puts a question mark when some security force officers take favour from Nur Hossain and his associates," it said.
The court also said that among the 35 accused, 25 are members of security forces and law enforcement agencies, while the rest are ordinary people. The heinous crimes were committed jointly by members of law enforcement agencies and ordinary people.
It is a great shame for the nation that law enforcement members, assigned with the task of protecting the lives and properties of people, have themselves abducted, killed and destroyed evidence of their crimes. Both parties committed the gruesome killings in a pre-planned way to benefit.
The court said the image of RAB cannot be tarnished due to the crimes of some unruly and conscience-less people who joined the force on deputation.
 "To us, RAB is a symbol of responsibilities and capabilities. The elite force has successfully tackled several national crises. It cannot be the target of criticism for some specific individuals. This is why, the authorities should be more careful to appoint officials on deputation,” it added.     

After the news of the Narayanganj seven murders spread, it was the public perception that RAB itself had committed the crimes. For this, RAB has had to bear the blame till now, the court said.
“But we want to say that RAB did not commit any such crimes. Those who committed the crimes, it was obviously their individual crimes,” it maintained.
All evidence show that it is a conflict between two groups of criminals. The killings took place due to disputes over establishing supremacy in the area. “These criminal groups do not believe in any political ideology. They only believe in power politics,” the court observed.
The judge further said: “On the basis of the incidents, surroundings, witness, evidence and records, I am confirming my position that the accused persons, including Nur Hossain, expelled Lt Col Tareq Sayeed Mohammad, expelled Major Arif Hossain, expelled  Lt Commander  Mohammad Masud Rana, hatched the conspiracy. They jointly abducted Nazrul, Tazul, Liton, Swapan and Ibrahim and killed  them in their planned time and at a planned place. The accused were involved in crimes under Sections 120(B) and 364/34. It has been proven that the accused persons abducted in a bid to kill.”
“On the basis of the above-mentioned discussions, evidence, documents, information submitted before the court in the presence of the prosecutor, lawyers of both complainers and accused persons, it can be said that the accused committed crimes against humanity. For this, there is no way except giving them the supreme punishment,” the court noted. 
About the court’s observations, Narayanganj public prosecutor SM Wajed Ali Khokon told this correspondent that during the argument, he also argued before the court that the RAB cannot be blamed for the crimes of some RAB members as they committed the crimes for their personal benefits only.
Replying to another question, Khokon said: “I cannot explain the observations of the court until I get the signed copy of the verdict.”
Awami League leader and former NCC councillor, Nur Hossain, three former RAB officers, including sacked commanding officer of RAB-11, Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, and 22 others were sentenced to death on Monday in the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder case. 
The district and sessions judge of Narayanganj, Syed Enayet Hossain, also sentenced nine others to various jail terms—between seven and 10 years—for abduction and killing of then Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) panel mayor, Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and five others in April 2014. 
Of the total 35 convicts, 25 are former members of RAB-11 and conviction of such a large number of ex-members of RAB is unprecedented. Also, this is the second highest number of death sentences in a case after the BDR mutiny case that witnessed capital punishment for about 300 members of the paramilitary force.

Forces appointment on deputation needs care

Observes court in its verdict in Nganj 7-murder case

The court of the district and sessions judge, Narayanganj, Syed Enayet Hossain, has observed that the authorities should be more careful in appointing personnel on deputation. However, the court said that as an elite force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) cannot be blamed for the crimes as RAB itself did not commit them. The court made some important observations in the 162-page verdict on the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder case on Monday. The court said it is matter of serious shame for all government officials and employees and it is also shameful for the whole nation. The court observed that as an elite force, RAB cannot be blamed for the crimes of some of its members who had committed the heinous crimes for their personal benefits only. Our heads come down when a notorious criminal like Nur Hossain can make contact with some high government officials. It also puts a question mark when some security force officers take favour from Nur Hossain and his associates, it said. The court also said that among the 35 accused, 25 are members of security forces and law enforcement agencies, while the rest are ordinary people. The heinous crimes were committed jointly by members of law enforcement agencies and ordinary people. It is a great shame for the nation that law enforcement members, assigned with the task of protecting the lives and properties of people, have themselves abducted, killed and destroyed evidence of their crimes. Both parties committed the gruesome killings in a pre-planned way to benefit. The court said the image of RAB cannot be tarnished due to the crimes of some unruly and conscience-less people who joined the force on deputation. To us, RAB is a symbol of responsibilities and capabilities. The elite forcehas successfully tackled several national crises. It cannot be the target of criticism for some specific individuals. This is why, the authorities should be more careful to appoint officials on deputation, it added. After the news of the Narayanganj seven murders spread, it was the public perception that RAB itself had committed the crimes. For this, RAB has had to bear the blame till now, the court said. But we want to say that RAB did not commit any such crimes. Those who committed the crimes, it was obviously their individual crimes, it maintained. All evidence show that it is a conflict between two groups of criminals. The killings took place due to disputes over establishing supremacy in the area. These criminal groups do not believe in any political ideology. They only believe in power politics, the court observed. The judge further said: On the basis of the incidents, surroundings, witness, evidence and records, I am confirming my position that the accused persons, including Nur Hossain, expelled Lt Col Tareq Sayeed Mohammad, expelled Major Arif Hossain, expelled Lt Commander Mohammad Masud Rana, hatched the conspiracy. They jointly abducted Nazrul, Tazul, Liton, Swapan and Ibrahim and killed them in their planned time and at a planned place. The accused were involved in crimes under Sections 120(B) and 364/34. It has been proven that the accused persons abducted in a bid to kill. On the basis of the above-mentioned discussions, evidence, documents, information submitted before the court in the presence of the prosecutor, lawyers of both complainers and accused persons, it can be said that the accused committed crimes against humanity. For this, there is no way except giving them the supreme punishment, the court noted. About the courts observations, Narayanganj public prosecutor SM Wajed Ali Khokon told this correspondent that during the argument, he also argued before the court that the RAB cannot be blamed for the crimes of some RAB members as they committed the crimes for their personal benefits only. Replying to another question, Khokon said: I cannot explain the observations of the court until I get the signed copy of the verdict. Awami League leader and former NCC councillor, Nur Hossain, three former RAB officers, including sacked commanding officer of RAB-11, Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, and 22 others were sentenced to death on Monday in the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder case. The district and sessions judge of Narayanganj, Syed Enayet Hossain, also sentenced nine others to various jail termsbetween seven and 10 yearsfor abduction and killing of then Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) panel mayor, Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and five others in April 2014. Of the total 35 convicts, 25 are former members of RAB-11 and conviction of such a large number of ex-members of RAB is unprecedented. Also, this is the second highest number of death sentences in a case after the BDR mutiny case that witnessed capital punishment for about 300 members of the paramilitary force.