Family urges PM not to forward mercy petition

Family members of Fauzia Rahman Chapa, who was brutally killed in Barisal 26 years ago, yesterday urged the prime minister not to forward the main convict's mercy petition to the president.

A mercy petition from the family of the convict, Zahurul Islam Kamal, who is serving a life sentence, was recently sent to the Prime Minister's Office by the home ministry following recommendation from the law ministry.

Chapa's sister Khairia Rahman, at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) at Jatiya Press Club yesterday, said, "I am expecting justice. If they let him off then we will be denied justice."

She told reporters that the convict and their family members have been continuously sending them death threats ever since Chapa's murder. "If Zahurul is let off then my family would be in grave danger," she said.

Chapa, mother of a son and wife of Zahurul's brother Shahidul Alam, was murdered in her house on Fakirbari Road in Barisal City in October 1989 when her husband was abroad.

In 1994, a Barisal court sentenced Zahurul, his brother Nasiruddin Jamal and their brother-in-law (sister's husband) Zillul Bari to life imprisonment for the crime. 

However, after an appeal against the verdict, the High Court in April 1996 acquitted the trio on benefit of doubts.

Later in May 2005, the Supreme Court upheld Zahurul's life imprisonment, and commuted Nasiruddin and Zillul's life sentences to seven years each.   

Jahurul, who was a fugitive for 22 years, surrendered to police in 2011 and is in jail currently. 

"He was on medical leave during most of his time in jail in the last four years. We cannot even think how the home ministry, with the law ministry's recommendation, sent the mercy petition of such a gruesome killer to the prime minister," said Khairia.   

Leaders of BMP, a women's rights organisation, which had demonstrated for justice after Chapa was killed, also expressed grave concern over the issue. Ayesha Khanam, president of BMP, said as the family of the accused can seek mercy; the victim's family can also seek justice.

"If the state in any way stands by an oppressor at a time when incidents of violence against women and girls are occurring regularly, it will give a clear message in favour of oppressors," she said.

The parishad's general secretary Maleka Banu and lawyer Maksuda Akter Laily were present.