DHAKA: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court concluded arguments on appeal petition filed by Syed Mohammad Qaiser, challenging his death sentence awarded by now defunct International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on December 23, 2014.

A four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Tuesday (December 3) set January 14 to pronounce its judgment.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued for upholding Qaiser’s death sentence, while defence counsel SM Shahjahan stood for Qaiser’s acquittal.

According to the prosecution, the force Syed Mohammad Qaiser raised named after himself –the Qaisar Bahini – had their own uniforms with caps and belts. The gang members used to wear caps with inscription of “Qaisar”.

Qaiser, the founder of Saiham Textiles and ex-MP and state minister during the Jatiya Party rule, was found guilty for carrying out mass-killing, murders, rapes, and abduction among other crimes.

The prosecution in their closing arguments had said Qaiser played the role of a Dragon in the crimes that took place in the vast areas of Habiganj, Madhobpur and Brahmanbaria in 1971.

BDST: 1808 HRS, DEC 03, 2019

AH/SMS