When remorseful parents and bemoaned relatives were about to forget them, painstakingly though, the spectacular verdict in Narayanganj seven-murder case has aroused fresh demand for trial and punishment of several tortured, raped and murdered women and girls as well as many others forced into disappearance.
Narayanganj district court on 17 January handed death sentences to 26 killers - including mastermind Nur Hossain and three officers of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) --and jail terms for nine associates who conducted the city's worst killing mission two years ago over long running local feud.
The victims, including panel Mayor Nazrul Islam, advocate Chandan Sarkar and five others were killed and the bodies dumped into a river after slicing their bellies open. The bloated corpses were recovered from the Shitalakya river several days later.
The whole nation heaved a sigh of relief over the sentences but people wondered whether killers of Sohagi Jahan Tanu of Comilla Victoria College, Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Akter in Chittagong, journalist duo Sagor-Runi and others who had been murdered in last few years would also get similar justice? Many would say yes, as once the example has been set in Narayanganj it will be followed. But the demand is now for quick dispensation of justice in all the pending cases.
Given the power and influence - and political links - of the Narayanganj killer gang many were not expecting the trial and sentence of Nur Hossain, RAB officer Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, who happens to be son-in-law of a senior minister and leader of ruling Awami League. But the local court has disproved all apprehensions amid roaring demand for the sentences to be executed soon. But there are still many slips between the cup and lips - as the convicts will appeal in the higher courts trying to quash their sentences and the final judgement id unlikely in a while.
The supporters and family members of the Narayanganj 7 murder victims were also powerful in their own ways but comparatively Tonu's parents are "small fries" while the accused rapist and killer of their daughter is allegedly a member of the Bangladesh Army. However, this has not been confirmed by investigation yet.
Narayanganj seven murderers had considerable political and law enforcement connections. Nur Hossin grew up and operated under the shadow of local Member of Parliament Shamim Osman of the ruling party and Tarek Sayeed Mohammad,, besides being linked with Minister Mofazzal Hossain Maya, had allegedly created his own syndicate of killers and abductors in the industrial city not very far from capital Dhaka.
However, whatever may be the reason in the end, the murderers were arrested, tried and now sentenced to death. The trial was unexpected and so unusual that many are speculating that ultimately they will be freed or the sentence somehow reduced. However, it is also believed by most people that the High Court and Supreme Court will not trash the district court verdict and thus uphold maximum punishment of the killers.
The elite force RAB enjoys "near absolute" impunity for their actions despite they are blamed by local and international human rights organizations for series of extra-judicial killings in the country. They are drawn from the army, navy and air force to back up police in combating crimes, militancy and terrorism.
But, crime experts say, had the RAB members in Narayanganj not been turned into "criminals and terrorists" themselves, Godfather Nur Hosssain probably would not dare to hire Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, and his colleague for committing the killings.
While Tanu's murder case has yet to be fully investigated, Mitu's case also is in limbo as her police officer husband is trying to keep himself out of this and clear his name from the list for suspected killers or their accomplices.
