URGENT ACTION

Five men executed in bangladesh

Five men found guilty of killing Bangladesh’s first president were executed in Dhaka Central Jail in the early hours of 28 January, 13 hours after the final judicial review of their sentences.

Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Mohiuddin Ahmed, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmedand Bazlul Hudawere hanged one by one soon after midnighton 28 January 2010.

The Supreme Court confirmed their death sentences after its final review of the case on 27 January. Several weeks earlier, the current President, Zillur Rahman, had rejected the mercy petitions of three of the men. He rejected a mercy petition from the fourth man soon after the Supreme Court announced its final decision. The fifth man, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, did not submit a mercy petition to the President.

The five men had been sentenced to death in 1998 for the assassination of Bangladesh’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and most of his family in August 1975.

No further action is requested. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

This is the first update of UA 20/10 Index: ASA 13/001/2010. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA13/001/2010/en

Further information on UA: 20/10 Index: ASA 13/004/2010 Issue Date: 1 February 2010