DHAKA: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Monday upheld the death penalty to war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman rejecting his review petition.

The appellate division bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha pronounced the verdict on the review petition filed challenging the death penalty for the war crimes convict.

The other members include Justice Abdul Wahab Mia, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury.

Regarding the execution of the verdict, Attorney General Mahbub-e-Alam said the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has earlier issued the death warrant for convicted war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mohammad Kamaruzzaman.

Following his review petition, the death warrant was postponed. The verdict is now upheld through Monday’s rejection of review petition.
 
But the convict has a chance to seek presidential mercy within seven days, the top law officer in the government added.

Besides, the prosecution expressed satisfaction over Supreme Court Appellate Division verdict that upheld death penalty for war crimes convict Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.

Chief prosecutor Advocate Golam Arif Tipu said, “This is our expected verdict and we are too pleased.”

In an immediate reaction after the verdict pronouncement, Kamaruzzaman’s lawyer Shishir Monir said next legal step would be taken after consultation with their client Muhammad Kamaruzzaman at Dhaka Central Jail.

Later on March 5, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman filed the review petition with the Supreme Court against its verdict that upheld his death penalty for his crimes against humanity in 1971.

On February 18, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court published the full verdict of the death penalty of Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general for his involvement in crimes against humanity in 1971.

Later, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 issued the death warrant, the day after the SC released the full text of its verdict.

Earlier on November 3 in 2014, the Appellate Division upheld the death penalty for Kamaruzzaman awarded by International Crimes Tribunal-2.

On May 9, 2013, the ICT-2, led-by Justice Obaidul Hassan, awarded capital punishment to the Jamaat assistant secretary general for his crimes against humanity during country’s Liberation War in 1971.

BDST: 0912/1116 HRS, APR 06, 2015
RS/SMS