SC sets Feb 25 for hearing on ATM Azhar's review petition

The Appellate Division on Sunday set February 25 for hearing a review petition submitted by death-row convict and Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in cases over “crimes against humanity” during the 1971 Liberation War.

A three-member bench, headed by Senior Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, set the date after International Crimes Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam and Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman mentioned the review petition before it for holding hearing on the petition, said defence lawyer Advocate Md Shishir Monir.

Earlier, on January 23, the Appellate Division fixed February 20 for the review hearing. On that date, a five-member full bench headed by the Chief Justice was scheduled to hear the petition, reports UNB.

But the hearing of the petition was not held on that day as the working hours of the court ended through hearing and disposal of the previous cases.

Again the petition was placed before the court and prayed for the time.

Following his arrest, ATM Azhar faced nine charges of “crimes against humanity”.

According to the chargesheet, he was “responsible” for killing 1,256 people, abducting 17, and raping 13 women during the Liberation War in the Rangpur region.

Besides, he was said to have tortured civilians, set fire to hundreds of houses, and committed other atrocities.

The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014, in five out of the nine charges.

On January 28, 2015, the death-row convict submitted a petition to the Appellate Division, claiming his innocence.

Later, on July 19, 2020, Azharul Islam filed the review petition with the relevant branch of the Appellate Division.

Following an appeal hearing, the Appellate Division, under a bench led by then-Chief Justice Syed Mahmud, upheld the death penalty in a verdict delivered on October 23, 2019.

The full text of the Appellate Division’s verdict was released on March 15, 2020, after which ATM Azhar submitted the review petition.