'Kamaruzzaman must decide on mercy today'

Death row war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman must decide by today whether he would seek presidential clemency, state minister for home has said.

A magistrate will be sent to Kamaruzzaman in Dhaka Central Jail, where he has been kept, “after a short while” to ask about his decision, Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters while replying to a query at his office at Secretariat.

Journalists made the query after the Jamaat assistant secretary general met his lawyers and sought more time from the jail authorities to decide on seeking the president’s mercy.

“If he decides to seek presidential mercy, we will send his appeal to the president. But if he declines to seek clemency, we will execute the verdict (death penalty),” the state minister said.

Asked whether Kamaruzzaman will be given the time, the state minister said, “We will follow the jail code and the instruction given by the judges.”

On the rising confusion over the time of execution, he told the reporters said, “Don’t worry. We will finish the matter properly.”