Court sets 31 August for hearing on Abul Kalam Azad’s appeal in 1971 war crimes case

The Appellate Division has set 31 August to hear whether an appeal filed by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War, is maintainable.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Md Rezaul Haque, passed the order today (17 August).

Senior lawyer Ehsan A Siddique appeared for Azad, while Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam represented the prosecution.

In his appeal, Azad has sought condonation of the delay in filing the appeal and suspension of his sentence until the appeal is disposed of.

Azad, a former member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, was sentenced to death in absentia on 21 January 2013 while he was absconding.

The verdict was the first in a crimes against humanity case in Bangladesh, 41 years after the country’s independence.

Azad was accused of committing crimes against humanity at various locations in Faridpur during the Liberation War.

He was also known for appearing on Islamic programmes on several private television channels.

After remaining absconding for years, Azad surrendered to the International Crimes Tribunal on 21 January this year.

It was subsequently learnt that the President had suspended his sentence on the condition that he surrender and file an appeal against the 2013 death sentence. The Home Ministry issued a notification to this effect on 22 October.

Following his surrender, International Crimes Tribunal-2 accepted it and ordered that the relevant documents be supplied to him for filing the appeal.

Lawyer Mashiul Alam, who represented Azad, said on 21 January that the death sentence had been handed down in 2013 and was suspended by the President for one year following an application, on the condition that Azad surrender and file an appeal.

He said Azad surrendered on the day and the tribunal accepted his surrender and ordered that the necessary documents be provided for filing the appeal.