JS mourns executed Jamaat leaders Nizami, Mujahid, Mir Quasem, Quader Mollah, Kamaruzzaman

A condolence motion was adopted in the inaugural session of the Jatiya Sangsad today (12 March) over the death of several leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami who were executed for war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed initially placed a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the death of former prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia, as well as former members of parliament and other noted personalities.

However, while announcing the condolence motions for the late BNP lawmakers, their party affiliation was mentioned. In contrast, the party identity of deceased MPs who had been elected from the Awami League was not announced.

During the session, a proposal was raised to include the names of Jamaat leaders who had been executed for war crimes during the Liberation War. The list included former Jamaat ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami, along with Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Maulana Abdus Subhan, Abdul Quader Mollah, Mir Quasem Ali, and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.

A separate condolence proposal was also placed for Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who was also executed on charges of war crimes during the Liberation War.

Later, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman proposed that the names of the Jamaat leaders executed for war crimes be formally included in the condolence motion. The Speaker subsequently incorporated the proposal.

Opposition deputy leader and Jamaat-e-Islami deputy ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said the motion was one-sided and suggested adding the names of Matiur Rahman Nizami, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, Sharif Osman Hadi, and other leaders to the motion. The Speaker confirmed that the names would be included.

Later, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed announced the adoption of the condolence motion, saying, "I now request the parliament to adopt the condolence motions unanimously."

"The condolence motions placed in the parliament have been adopted unanimously. These motions will be included in the parliamentary proceedings. Copies of the motions will be sent to the families of the individuals being honoured," he added. 

Earlier in the day, the maiden session of the 13th parliament began at around 11:05am with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome speech by Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

In his address, the prime minister reiterated that his politics centres on safeguarding the interests of the country and ensuring the well-being of its people.

The parliamentary sitting later resumed around 1:30pm following a recess, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman delivering brief remarks at both the beginning of the session and after proceedings resumed.

He also noted that former speakers or deputy speakers traditionally attend the inauguration of a new parliament. However, he said that due to the fall of the previous government over what he described as anti-people actions, the former speaker and deputy speaker were currently absent, either on the run or in prison.

In the prevailing circumstances and in line with constitutional provisions and parliamentary procedures, he nominated senior politician and five-time member of parliament Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the initial proceedings of the session.

Later, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was elected as speaker of the parliament, while Kayser Kamal was elected deputy speaker.