Impunity against political and non-political killings is a concern in Bangladesh. Many political and non-political killings are sensational killings. But the killers of many sensational murders do not face any justice in Bangladesh at all, though they deserve punishment for murders. Many sensational political and non-political killings that gained significant public attention and interest — often because of the unusual nature of the murders and the involvement of prominent individuals — including former finance minister of Bangladesh Shah AMS Kibria, who was killed in 2005, Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, who were killed in 2012, and Mosarrat Jahan Munia, who was raped and murdered in 2021, have remained unpunished.
There are political, judicial and other reasons for the impunity of the real culprits of sensational killings. Political power, nepotism and the power of money are crucial causes of the impunity of sensational killers. Money and political identity or links of offenders and plotters often interplay especially in sensational murders, reducing the chance of justice many times despite increased public demands. Additionally, external links and the lack of political will play a vital role in evading justice against sensational killings in Bangladesh. Political will is often absent when the killers belong to the ruling party as leaders or activists. The lack of political will is visible in many sensational murders including Shah AMS Kibria murder and Munia murder. Among the others, the culture of impunity and corruption within the concerned authorities also put barriers to justice against heavy-weight culprits in sensational killings.
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But, pertinently saying, ensuring punishment against all sorts of killings including sensational killings is vital. It can lead to an improvement in the rule of law and help protect society and improve political grounds, upholding the principle of justice against actions and behavior that are unacceptable. But keeping sensational murders unpunished brings immense judicial and other impacts in Bangladesh. It nakedly undermines the justice system and erodes public trust in the government institutions showing the thumb — perpetuating the cycles of murders and leading to the lack of the rule of law — in Bangladesh. The lack of the rule of law has made society unsafe for many at the hands of influential people including political leaders and businessmen.
But it is not that the governments of Bangladesh do not make any efforts to bring the culprits to justice. The laws of Bangladesh provide the scope of justice against all sorts of killings including sensational killings. The concerned authorities also take the cases and carry out investigations most often. The killers of many sensational killings, including high-profile sensational killings, are brought to justice. Pertinently saying, justice was ensured against many sensational murders including the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, late president Ziaur Rahman, who was killed in 1981, and Sharmin Rima, who was killed in 1989 by her husband Munir Hussain. But these have not been as desired many times.
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But there are various flaws in the government’s efforts, leading to limited outcomes. There is a lack of transparency and adequacy in investigations, interruptions in investigations or politically motivated investigations and delays in the judicial process including the verdict. Despite multiple investigations and court rulings, justice has remained elusive for the families of Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi for more than a decade. Among others, there is a lack of steps to address various reasons including the power of money and political favoritism, leading to a compromised justice that helps save many prime killers. The trial of the killers of Ziaur Rahman is rendered compromised — as all are not brought to justice.
Given complicated challenges, it may not be possible to bring the killers of all sensational killings to justice always. But efforts are vital to bring the culprits of sensational murders as much as possible. For this, strengthening the rule of law and political willingness are vital. In the absence of political will, a strong judiciary can bring real culprits to justice many times. But addressing corruption in the concerned authorities including the judiciary is vital.
