1975 Jail Killing — the full case file

The Indemnity Ordinance of 1975 shielded the officers involved, and the investigation stalled for two decades. On 3 November 1975, four senior Bangladeshi political leaders held at Dhaka Central Jail were shot and bayoneted to death by army officers acting under the post-coup government of President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad. On August 15, 1975, President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is killed in a coup d'état; the Awami League government is overthrown. On November 3, 1975, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Muhammad Mansur Ali, and A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman are shot and bayoneted to death in Dhaka Central Jail; a counter-coup by Khaled Mosharraf and Shafaat Jamil removes President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad from power the same day. In 1996, Investigation into the killings resumes after the Awami League is elected to power. On October 15, 1998, a charge sheet is presented against 23 accused. On September 30, 2004, Metropolitan Sessions Judge Motiur Rahman issues an arrest warrant against Deputy Superintendent of Police Saifuddin Ahmed. On August 29, 2008, Bangladesh High Court issues its verdict on the appeal of the 2004 judgement. In 2013, Bangladesh Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the appeal, restoring two death sentences. On April 7, 2020, Abdul Majed is detained. On April 12, 2020, Abdul Majed is executed. The case is recorded as solved. This case file is kept in memory of Syed Nazrul Islam, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman, Tajuddin Ahmad, and Muhammad Mansur Ali. The full sourced case file, with every fact cited, is at casepin dot org.

Transcript from the video’s narration track. For every source, open the case file.