War crimes convict Azad's death sentence appeal hearing on 17 Aug

The hearing on 1971 war crimes convict Abul Kalam Azad's appeal against his death sentence has been set for 17 August after the prosecution today (10 August) sought more time.

A three-member appellate bench led by Justice Md Rezaul Haque granted the prosecution's request and fixed the new date. Senior lawyer Ehsan A Siddiq and lawyer Mir Osman Bin Nasim appeared for Azad, while Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam represented the state.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Aminul said the prosecution had sought an adjournment as it did not have the paper book containing the case records and had not received a copy from the appellant.

"The paper book was not available, and they [the appellant] did not provide us with a copy either. We therefore sought an adjournment, which the court granted. The matter will be heard on 17 August," he said.

Azad, a former member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, was sentenced to death in absentia on 21 January 2013 for crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War. It was the first verdict in a crimes-against-humanity case delivered 41 years after Bangladesh's independence.

Azad, who became widely known through Islamic programmes on several private television channels, was accused of committing crimes against humanity at different locations in Faridpur during the 1971 Liberation War.

After remaining a fugitive for years, he surrendered to the International Crimes Tribunal on 21 January this year. It was then revealed that the president had suspended Azad's death sentence for one year on the condition that he surrender and file an appeal against the verdict.

Following the presidential decision, the home ministry issued a gazette notification on 22 October, according to his lawyer Mashiul Alam. After Azad surrendered, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 ordered that the necessary documents be provided to him to enable him to file an appeal.