War crimes: SC upholds death penalty for ATM Azhar
Sabah Mannan of DOT
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the death sentence against war criminal and former Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam. The verdict was passed by a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, reports Dhaka Tribune. Azhar’s Lawyer Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said that they will appeal for a review petition against the verdict. The review petition will have to be placed within 15 days after the convict receives the certified copy of the judgment. If the SC rejects the review petition, ATM Azhar can seek president’s clemency. If the president does not grant mercy, then the verdict of the death sentence will be executed. Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq said yesterday that Azharul will be hung after completion of all the legal procedure. Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, the law minister said Bangladesh has progressed one more step in establishment of justice and rule of law.
On January 28, 2015, Azhar filed his appeal challenging the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) verdict that sentenced him to death for war crimes. Previously on June 18, the Appellate Division began hearing arguments on the appeal from both the state and the defense. However, the bench completed the hearing and deferred the matter as a Case Awaiting Verdict (CAV) on July 10.
On December 30, 2014, ICT 1 sentenced Jamaat Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul to death for his war crimes. He was found guilty in five of the six charges against him.
Azhar, with Jamaat and Chhatra Sangha activists, teamed with the Pakistan Army and attacked villages in Rangpur on April 17, 1971 where over 1,200 Hindus were killed. Another 200 Hindus were held and later killed at an confidential location. The incident is said to be the single biggest act of genocide in the war.