Mojaheed, SQ Chy buried in their villages

Top war criminals Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury were buried yesterday at their village homes amid tight security.

Meanwhile, additional security measures were taken and paramilitary forces deployed in Dhaka and Chittagong to ward off any untoward incident centring on the execution of the duo.

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SALAUDDIN's BURIAL

Self-proclaimed brigadier against pro-liberation forces in 1971, Salauddin was buried at Madhyagahira in Chittagong's Raozan.

Escorted by law enforcers from Dhaka Central Jail, an ambulance with the body reached his village home, Baitul Bilal, around 9:00am, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

Salauddin's younger son Hummam Quader Chowdhury received the body from the deputy jailer, Mazharul Islam, at the premises.

A namaz-e-janaza was held in front of a local mosque around 9:20am, led by Hejafat-e Islam's senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Mohibullah Babunagari.

Earlier, additional law enforcers were deployed in Raozan upazila and around Salauddin's residence at Gahira.

At a press conference after the burial, Hummam claimed that it was nothing but propaganda that his father had sought presidential mercy.

He said his father was a tiger and that tiger never bows to anybody.

"My father has been killed through an illegal judgment. But I am fortunate that I have received his body whereas many are losing their relatives to forced disappearance and murder in the current situation of the country."

Someday the trial of his father's "killing" would also be held in the country, Hummam added.

MOJAHEED'S BURIAL

The body of Mojaheed, chief of notorious Al-Badr force in 1971, reached his ancestral home in Khabashpur village of Faridpur around 6:35am, reports a correspondent from Faridpur.

Executive magistrates Rubayet Hayat Shiplu and Mandeep Ghorai received the body on behalf of the local authorities.

His namaz-e-janaza was held at Khabaspur Ideal Madrasa ground around 6:55am before he was buried beside its main entrance, said Abdur Rashid, the district's additional deputy commissioner.

Mojaheed's brother and Nayeb-e-Ameer of Faridpur municipality Ali Afjol Md Khalech led the namaz-e-janaza.

Reaching the village along with other members of the family, Mojaheed's elder son Ali Ahmad Tajdid said his father had pardoned those who testified against him in court and asked his family members not to be angry with them.

Ameer of Faridpur district Jamaat-e Islami Abdut Tawab said the burial and janaza had been completed with the assistance of the security forces.

He, however, claimed many people had been barred from attending the janaza.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion and police created a security shield around Mojaheed's home and burial spot to avert any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, Faridpur district Awami League brought out a procession hailing the execution of Mojaheed. They also distributed sweets among people.

After the burial, the war criminal's younger son, Ali Ahmed Mabrur, reiterated that his father had not filed any mercy petition. To humiliate his father, the government staged the drama, he added.

The war criminals, both former ministers, were hanged simultaneously at 12:55am yesterday at Dhaka Central Jail after President Abdul Hamid rejected their mercy pleas.