DHAKA (V7N) – Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul today praised the fearless leadership of the July mass uprising for creating the opportunity to establish justice in the country.

"It is now the responsibility of all of us to protect this opportunity," he said.The adviser made these remarks in a status update on his verified Facebook account, following the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court's decision earlier in the day to acquit Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam of charges related to crimes against humanity and war crimes. The court allowed his appeal against an earlier judgment that had upheld Azhar's conviction and death sentence, which was initially handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1).

Dr. Asif Nazrul elaborated, "Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam was acquitted of the death sentence in the case over Liberation War time crimes against humanity, after being proven innocent. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice, unanimously allowed his review plea against the sentence. Today's judgment has declared the International Crimes Tribunal's verdict that had sentenced Azharul to death, and the Appellate Division's sentence that upheld the death sentence, null and void."

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