The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

Members of different law enforcing agencies including RAB were deployed around the Supreme Court (SC), key point installations (KPI), judges' complex and foreign missions yesterday on the eve of final verdict in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassination case.

A total of more than 1,000 members of law enforcing agencies including RAB, SWAT team, Detective Branch (DB) and Special Branch (SB) were deployed around the SC on the day.

Home Minister Shahara Khatun yesterday said that the government would not withdraw the foolproof security measure until execution of the death sentence of ex-army officers.

At least 40,000 members of the law enforcing agencies, including 5000 from Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed across the country.

Besides, some 5,500 law-enforcers have been deployed in the capital city to thwart any trouble over on the final verdict of the historic murder case.

There was no bar in the movement of the public but the traffic movement in the city was thin on the day as most people preferred to remain confined to their houses as the city was in the grip of tension over the verdict.

At least 200 check posts including 100 temporary check posts were set up in the city. Different modes of vehicles were being searched by members of law enforcing agencies.

The metallic security archways had been set up at various selective entrance points on the ground floor as well as upper floors of the SC.

Only lawyers, journalists and officials of the SC and some Awami League men were allowed to enter the Court premises before the final verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case.

Meanwhile, members of law enforcing agencies have been asked to continue their patrol at different points Home Minister Shahra Khatun told the reporters at her Secretariat office.

She hoped politics of killings would stop through the execution of the Supreme Court's verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case, which finally confirmed the death sentence on a dozen former army officers for the murder of the country's founder-President.

"Politics of killing started with the assassination of Bangabandhu. Through implementation of the highest court's verdict, the politics of killing comes to an end and people will get relief," she said reporters after announcement of the verdict.

"After 34 years the Bengali nation got rid of a stigma", she said . "The nation was assured today that the verdict would be implemented lawfully on the soil of this country." Sahara said the government wants to eliminate militancy from the country so that people could live in peace.

Earlier, Shahara Khatun burst into tears when talking with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over phone about the verdict yesterday noon.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said yesterday law enforcing agencies would continue their patrol till the execution of the death sentence.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque said police provided foolproof security to maintain normal law and order after the delivery of the judgment in the case.