DHAKA: The Supreme Court (SC) Appellate Division is hearing the review petition filed challenging the death penalty for war crimes convict Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

The hearing at 4-member full bench of the Division headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha started around 9:05 am on Wednesday.

The other members include Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain.

Salauddin Qauder’s chief lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain is moving for his client while attorney general Mahbubey Alam is present for the state.

Earlier on Tuesday, the apex court deferred the hearing to November 18 (Wednesday) as the defense lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain sought adjournment of hearing.

On July 17 of 2013, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 handed down death sentence to Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mujahid. Later, he appealed against the verdict on August 11 of that year.

On the other hand, on October 1 of 2013, ICT-1 awarded death sentence to Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. The BNP leader also appealed against the ICT verdict on October 29 of that year.

The Appellate Division upheld the ICT verdicts against Mujahid on June 16 and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on July 29 for their crimes against humanity during the country’s war of independence in 1971.

The full verdict was published on September 30. Later on October 1, Dhaka Central Jail authorities read out the verdicts to both the convicts.

On October 14, both Salahuddin Quader and Mujahid submitted review petitions of those verdicts separately.

BDST: 1010 HRS, NOV 18, 2015
RS/SMS