Condemning violence in Bangladesh, the United Nations has urged all sides to show restraint and ensure a peaceful post electoral environment in the country.

The USA and the European Union have also denounced violence over the just concluded parliamentary elections, and called for addressing all electoral complaints in a peaceful manner.

Welcoming the participation of all major political parties in the general election for the first time in 10 years, they said it was a positive development which reflected aspirations of people for democracy.

The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement on Monday said, “The United Nations is aware of violent incidents and reports of irregularities in the Bangladesh general election.”

The UN regretted the loss of life and injuries sustained by candidates and voters during the electoral campaign and on the voting day, it said.

US STATEMENT

The US in a statement yesterday commended the Bangladeshis who voted in the election as well as the decision of all major opposition parties to participate.

“The United States remains deeply invested in the future of Bangladesh and its democratic development. The United States is Bangladesh's largest foreign investor, largest single-country market for Bangladeshi exports, and home to a large community of Americans of Bangladeshi origin,” said Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of the US state department.

However, it expressed concern over reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence in the pre-election period saying that those incidents made it difficult for many opposition candidates and their supporters to meet, hold rallies, and campaign freely. “We are also concerned that election-day irregularities prevented some people from voting, which undermined faith in the electoral process.”

He said his country strongly encourages all parties to refrain from violence and request the EC to work constructively with all sides to address claims of irregularities.

“Bangladesh's impressive record of economic development and respect for democracy and human rights are mutually reinforcing, and we look forward to continue working with the ruling government and opposition towards advancing these interrelated goals,” reads the statement.

EU STATEMENT

The EU said the mobilisation of voters and the participation of the opposition in the polls reflected the people's aspirations for democracy.

“However, violence has marred the election day, and significant obstacles to a level playing field remained in place throughout the process and have tainted the electoral campaign and the vote,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement yesterday.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the EU, in his statement said the relevant authorities should now ensure a proper examination of allegations of irregularities and commit to full transparency in their resolution.

The Supreme Court today modified its verdict in the sensational Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case.

In the modified verdict, the apex court fined each of the three convicts -- whose death sentences were commuted to imprisonment till their natural death --Tk 50,000.

In case of default, the convicts will have to serve one more year in jail, the Appellate Division of the SC said in the modified judgement, Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta told The Daily Star.

He said a three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Muhammad Imman Ali modified its verdict on suo moto (voluntary) move as there is a provision for fining along with the life term imprisonment under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

On October 6, the apex court, inadvertently, did not mention the fine in its verdict in Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case, DAG Amit Das Gupta said.

Meanwhile, Khandker Mahbub Hossain, a defence lawyer for convict Alamgir Kabir alias Baitta Alamgir,  told this correspondent that his client will move a petition before the Appellate Division seeking review of the judgement in the case.

How the convicts can serve one more year in prison after they die, if they don't pay the fine, he asked.

Lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain, however, said the fine is a must along with the imprisonment as per Section 302 of the Penal Code of Bangladesh.             

Read more: Gopal Krishna Muhuri Murder: SC commutes death sentence of three to imprisonment till death

On October 6, the Appellate Division bench had delivered the verdict in Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case after hearing the appeals of three convicts against the High Court verdict on them. 

In the verdict, the apex court commuted the death sentences of three convicts-- Azam, Alamgir Kabir and Taslim Uddin Montu-- to imprisonment till their natural death.  

Principal Gopal Krishna Muhuri of Nazirhat College in Chattogram was shot dead at his Jamal Khan Road residence in the port city on November 16, 2001.

The Supreme Court today commuted the death sentence of three convicts to imprisonment till natural death in the sensational Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case of Chattogram.

Principal Gopal Krishna Muhuri of Nazirhat College in Chittagong was shot dead at his Jamal Khan Road residence in Chattogram on November 16, 2001.

Today, a three-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Justice Muhammad Imman Ali commuted the death sentence of the three convicts after hearing their appeals against the High Court verdict on them in the case. 

The grounds on which the apex court commuted their death sentence could not be known immediately as the full text of the verdict has not been released yet.  

All the three convicts -- Azam, Alamgir Kabir alias Baitta Alamgir, and Taslimuddin Montu --  are now in the condemned cell, Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta told The Daily Star this morning.

The three convicts will be shifted to the normal cell of the jail as they are not death-row convicts, he said.

DAG Amit Das Gupta, however, could not say in which jail the three convicts are serving their punishment.             

Following the death reference and appeals of the convicts, the HC on July 19, 2006 upheld a lower court verdict awarding capital punishment to four convicts, including the three, for killing Gopal Krishna Muhuri. 

Of the four, Nasir alias Gittu Nasir was killed in a crossfire with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on March 2, 2005.

The three convicts, who are in jail, filed three separate appeals with the SC challenging the HC verdict on them.

Lawyers Khandker Mahbub Hossain and Helal Uddin Mollah appeared for the convicts.