They were once handed death sentences in high-profile cases and spent years behind bars with little hope of release. Today, they are elected members of parliament.
In a dramatic political turnaround following last year’s mass uprising and regime change, three leaders—two from the BNP and one from Jamaat-e-Islami—have moved from death row to the national parliament after securing decisive electoral victories.
Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar was arrested in 2007 in connection with the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally. Convicted and sentenced to death, he spent 18 years in prison without receiving bail.
Following the political change in August, Babar was acquitted through legal proceedings and released on January 16 last year. He returned to his home district of Netrokona and contested the election in the Mohanganj–Madan–Khaliajuri constituency under the BNP’s sheaf of rice symbol. He won by more than 120,000 votes over his nearest rival.
Another BNP leader, Abdus Salam Pintu, was also sentenced to death in the August 21 grenade attack case. He spent 17 years in prison before being released on December 24, 2024.
Pintu returned to his hometown of Tangail and contested from the Gopalpur–Bhuiyanpur constituency with the BNP symbol. He secured a landslide victory, winning by nearly 200,000 votes.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, previously sentenced to death in a crimes against humanity case, also staged a remarkable political comeback. Arrested in 2012 after the Awami League came to power, he remained imprisoned for more than a decade before his release on May 28 last year.
Azhar contested the Rangpur-2 (Taraganj–Badarganj) constituency and defeated his BNP rival by a wide margin.
The victories of these three leaders reflect the sweeping changes in Bangladesh’s political landscape following the mass uprising. Once facing execution, they have now secured mandates from voters—an extraordinary reversal that underscores the depth of the country’s political transformation.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
