'Trial of army men under martial law was farcical'

"Thirteen army personnel were executed and 10 more were sentenced to imprisonment on different terms through a farcical trial under the martial law on September 23, 1981 for saving those who were behind Zia's killing," former major Rezaul Karim, who was also sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment by the martial law court, said while reading out the briefing statement.

The press briefing was organised by the 23rd September Smriti Rakkha Sangsad comprising the family members of the executed and jailed army persons at a residence in the city's Panthapath to mark the 24th anniversary of the trial.

Forcing the army persons to sign a fabricated statement and giving them no opportunity to defend themselves, the trial was completed within only 18 days, Rezaul Karim, also the general secretary of the sangsad, said.

"The trial of Zia's killing should have been held in the civil court as Zia was not an army person when he was killed," he said.

The sangsad demanded that the government immediately implement the decision of the parliamentary committee on defence ministry to provide the victims of the court martial with pension facilities and other financial compensations as they were proved innocent by a civil court in the Zia murder case in 2001.

"We appeal to the president through the law minister, who recently raised the issue of the trial under martial law, to take immediate steps to implement the parliamentary committee's decision with a view to restoring our social dignity and ensuring rehabilitation," he added.

Sangsad president Anwara Rashid, members Nur Jahan Delwar, Ulfat Ara, former majors Fazlul Haque and Maruf Rashid, former captains Mohammad Ilias and Salah Uddin Ahmed, and former lieutenant Mosleh Uddin Ahmed attended the press briefing.

Later, a milad mahfil was held for the salvation of the souls of those executed in the 1981 trial.