Now the key question is as to when the war criminal Kamaruzzaman will see the end of his infamous life. The procedural experiences of Abdul Kader Mollah shows it could be at best three months.

Remember the dates followed the last days of Mollah.

After the surprising verdict awarding him only life-term on February 5, 2013; the appeal hearing concluded on September 17 last year. Then the wait was for the copy of the full judgment of the highest court. It came on the 79th day of the brief verdict.

The jail authorities got the copy on December 8 and started preparation for the execution. December 10 was scheduled to be the day.

Suddenly the defence, led by Barrister Abdur Razzaq, now staying abroad apparently to escape a possible trial for alleged crimes against humanity committed by himself in 1971, moved to the Chamber Judge Court and the Judge fixed the following day for hearing.

So, the execution procedures abruptly faced a setback although the close kins made the final meeting with Abdul Kader Mollah at the Dhaka Central Jail on December 10.

Next day the highest court heard to the petition for a review and a day after they turned down the appeal.

Finally, Abdul Kader Mollah was executed on December 12 and became the first Bangladeshi criminal to be hanged for committing crimes against humanity during the war of liberation.

Now Kamaruzzaman is in second on the row.

 Execution: Mollah Experience

Death sentence by Appellate Division: Sept 17, 2013
Publication of full verdict: Dec 5, 2013
Certified copy of judgment to jail authorities: Dec 8, 2013
Postponement of execution following review petition: Dec 10, 2013
Hearing on review petition: Dec 11, 2013
Dismissal of the review petition: Dec 12, 2013
Death sentence execution: 10.01pm, Dec 12, 2013

Trial of Kamaruzzaman

Death sentence by ICT: May 9, 2013
Appeal before the Appellate Division: June 6, 2013
Completion of hearing: Sept 17, 2014
Appellate Division verdict: Nov 3, 2014
Publication of full verdict: ??
Death sentence execution: ??

Although Attorney General Mahbube Alam persuaded for execution based on the brief verdict, it is apparent that the hanging will take place after release of the certified copy of the judgment.

For Kader Mollah, it took over two-and-half-month. But, it does not mean this time, too, the nation will have to wait for more than 11 weeks. It is a privilege of the Appellate Division and they can give the full verdict soon after completion of the writing. Even it may be in a month.

Then the question of the review will come up.

Kamaruzzaman’s lawyers said they will file a review petition seeking acquittal of all the charges in which he was found to be guilty.

“The petition will be filed within 30 days after getting the certified copy of the verdict,” said Advocate Shishir Monir, a counsel for the war crimes convict.

Tajul Islam, another lawyer for Kamaruzzaman, claimed that the defence was eligible to file a review petition against the verdict of the Appellate Division.

But, according to Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, there is no scope to file such a petition against the Supreme Court verdict.

"I don’t think there has any opportunity to seek review against the verdict," the AG told journalists adding that the trial is being held under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, a constitutionally protected law which does not give any option of review petition.

The highest law officer of the state also referred to the similar petition filed against the death penalty of Kader Mollah.

The petition was dismissed by the Appellate Division and eventually Mollah was hanged the following day.

Now whenever Kamaruzzaman walks to the gallows, he will be the second member of Jatiya Press Club to be hanged for war crimes after Abdul Kader Mollah.

The club had to terminate their membership only after Shahbagh uprising last year following the verdict in Mollah’s case by the tribunal.

Before that the two war criminals__ Kader Mollah and Kamaruzzaman__ were members of the Jatiya Press Club years after years although their crimes against humanity were not unknown to anyone.

A national institution the Jatiya Press Club is, indeed.

BDST: 1533 HRS, NOV 03, 2014