The case of Mohiuddin is a matter that is now entirely in the hands of the highest judiciary that should move according to the law of the land to see the end of it without delay. We would also like to call upon the concerned authorities to ensure that the appeal process, in the case of the other convicted killers now in custody, which has been hanging since 2001 for want of a judge, should also be completed expeditiously.

Prompt completion of the legal process being the focal point of the nation's attention, we cannot but refer to the comments of the law advisor in this regard, which have been as surprising as disappointing. We are surprised that he chose to term the case as an old one and political in nature, dating back to 1975, and something that is not on the list of priorities of the caretaker government. When common sense suggests that it is a case for the legal system, and the attorney general's office the right agency to determine the next course of action, the law advisor's comments, come as they did within hours of Mohiuddin's landing in Bangladesh, are not only discomforting, they are also highly perplexing.

We would like to suggest that it is the judiciary that has the prerogative to determine the precedence of a court case depending on the nature of the case. Moreover, to suggest that it is a political case when appeal is pending with the Supreme Court is an untenable argument not expected of an advisor, less so from one who is himself a man of the legal profession. We wonder if there is a signal that he wants to convey. If that be so it is a very wrong signal to give out. We also wonder whether his views reflect the position of the government, if not it would do well to disassociate with the comments.

The Bangabandhu assassination case has been kept hanging for too long. It must be brought to an expeditious end not only for the sake of justice and the rule of law but also to erase the stigma that the nation has been carrying on its conscience so long.