US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1799

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001799 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PTER, BG, Crime/Murders 
SUBJECT: 22 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF AL MP 
 
 
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d. 
 
1. (C) Summary: A Speedy Trial Tribunal has sentenced to 
death 22 people, mostly tied to the ruling BNP, for the May 
2004 murder of Awami League MP Ahsanullah Master.  AL leaders 
expressed satisfaction with the judgment but want the 
"godfathers" behind the attack identified and brought to 
justice.  There are reliable reports that police were 
prevented from tracing links between Master's killers and 
senior BNP figures, a pattern many believe is being repeated 
in the Kibria case.  Nevertheless, the BDG can now argue that 
is has solved the murder of a major opposition leader.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The April 16 sentencing of 22 persons to death for 
the May 2004 murder of Awami League (AL) MP Ahsanullah Master 
represents the most capital punishment sentences for a single 
case in Bangladeshi history.  Master, a popular AL labor 
leader and Chairman of the Institute for Labor Studies, was 
shot to death, along with a student, during a political rally 
in the industrial district of Tongi.  He was well-known and 
respected as a teacher and a scholar who worked closely with 
BNP leaders on labor issues.  Master was also active in 
trying to rid his constituency of drugs and criminals.  His 
murder generated widespread media attention and demands for 
justice.  Master's young son, as the AL candidate, easily won 
the subsequent by-election for his father's seat. 
 
3. (SBU) The trial and sentencing were done in record time. 
Up to 17 of those sentenced to death appear to be tied to the 
BNP, while three others are AL activists, and two more belong 
to General Ershad's Jatiya Party.  The alleged mastermind, 
Nurul Islam Sarkar, is reportedly a local BNP youth wing 
leader whose brother is the BNP leader from the Tongi area. 
Six other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment. 
However, only 12 of the defendants are actually in custody. 
 
4. (SBU) The tribunal judge told local media that local 
political activists were behind the crime because they viewed 
Master as an obstacle to their criminal activities in the 
area.  He noted the condemned have the right of appeal to the 
high court, and that this process would likely be lengthy. 
 
5. (SBU) Ahsanullah's family has expressed satisfaction with 
the verdict and is asking for prompt execution of the 
condemned.  AL Secretary General Abdul Jalil told us that he 
is generally happy with the convictions but wants the 
"conspirators" and "godfathers" who directed the attack to be 
identified and brought to justice as well.  AL Joint 
Secretary General Mukul Bose confirmed to us that the party 
 
SIPDIS 
is happy with the convictions, and wants similar speedy 
justice in the Kibria case. 
 
6. (C) Comment: There are reliable reports that police were 
prevented from tracing links between the suspects and senior 
BNP figures, a pattern many believe is being repeated with 
the Kibria case.  Nevertheless, the BDG can now argue that it 
has solved the murder of a major opposition leader.  The 
assertion that criminal interests drove Master's killing is 
consistent with the common overlap between local political 
activists of all parties and criminal activities. 
THOMAS