Supreme Court upholds death sentence of Jamaat leader Azahar
Appellate division upholds the death sentence of ATM Azaharul Islam, a Jamat –i- Islami leader, for his crimes against the humanity and war crimes during the Liberation War of the country in 1971. The apex court delivered the verdict by allowing an appeal in part filed by Azhar challenging the International Crimes Tribunal’s -1(ICT-1) verdict that sentenced him to death.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain came up with the verdict by majority view. The other members of apex court were Justice Hassan Faez Siddiky, Justice Jinatara and Justice Md. Nuruzzaman.
Now, the convicted Jamaat leader can file a petition with the Supreme Court seeking review of the judgment. The review petition will have to be filed in 15 days after the convict would receive 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 the mercy petition, then the verdict of the death sentence will be executed.
On December 30, 2014, ICT-1 sentenced Azhar, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, with death penalty for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
The ICT-1 consisted Justice Enayetur Rahim, Justice Anowarul Islam and Justice Zahangir Hossain.
Azhar later filed the appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the verdict where he claimed innocence and prayed to the Appellate Division to acquit him of the charges.
Azhar, hailed from Badorganj in Rangpur, became president of Islami Chhatra Sangha, Jamaat’s then student wing, Rangpur district unit in 1971. As the war broke out, he formed pro-Pakistani death squad Al-Badr Bahini in the district.
As Bangladesh got liberated on December 16, 1971, he like many others of his party went into hiding, only to be surfaced after the brutal killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
Azhar joined Jamaat-e-Islami and managed to climb its ranks swiftly from 1982 to 1990. He was the president of Jamaat’s Dhaka city unit from 1991-2002. Azhar became the central assistant secretary general of Jamaat and later was even in charge of general secretary of the extreme right wing party.
He was arrested on August 23, 2012, as the first tribunal issued arrest warrant against him. The prosecution submitted formal charge against him on July 18, 2013. The first tribunal July 25, 2013, took the charges pressed against Azhar into cognizance.
The ICT-1 on November 12, 2013, framed six charges of crimes against humanity against ATM Azharul Islam. During the trial proceedings, the prosecution produced 19 witnesses including the investigation officer, while the defence produced one.
Azahar filed appeal on January 28 of 2015. The hearing of his appeal began on last June 18. The hearing began with the paper book prepared by the defence lawyer Zainul Abedin. The hearing ended on last July 10.