Appellate Division fixes 27 May for verdict on ATM Azharul Islam's release
In the hearing, Shishir mentioned how ex-army official Aman Azmi, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem and Hummam Quader Chowdhury were kept in Aynaghar after falling victim of enforced disappearances
The Appellate Division has fixed 27 May for pronouncing a verdict on an appeal made by the lawyers of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam seeking his release in a case accusing him of committing war crimes during the liberation war of Bangladesh.
A full bench of seven justices led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed fixed the date after a hearing on the petition today (8 May).
Taking part in the hearing, Azharul's lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir said, "The trial at International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was staged and pre-planned. The top Jamaat leaders have been hanged unjustifiably. The truth has been portrayed in the book 'Broken Dream' written by former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha."
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During the hearing, Shishir added, "The fascist government of Sheikh Hasina would have hanged Azharul too if she could get some more time. Allah has kept Azharul alive. We could not come to the court [to seek justice] if Azharul had been hanged. You (ICT) have got a chance to ensure justice."
In the hearing, Shishir mentioned how ex-army official Aman Azmi, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem and Hummam Quader Chowdhury were kept in Aynaghar after falling victim of enforced disappearances.
ATM Azharul Islam faced six charges involving nine types of crimes against humanity in the Rangpur region, including genocide, murder, abduction, rape, detention, torture, grievous injury, looting, and arson during the 1971 war.
The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to death on 30 December 2014 on charges 2, 3, and 4. He was also sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment on charge number 5 for abduction, torture, and rape, and to 5 years' imprisonment on charge number 6 for torture.
The Appellate Division, in a verdict delivered on 31 October 2019 and headed by the then chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, upheld the death penalty on charges number 2, 3, and 4 (by majority decision) and also upheld the conviction on charge number 6. The court acquitted him on charge number 5.
