Dhaka, Jan 09 (V7N) — The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled January 23 to hear the review petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, challenging his death sentence in a crimes against humanity case stemming from the 1971 Liberation War.

The decision was announced by a five-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, during a hearing on Thursday.

Senior lawyer Barrister Abdur Razzak presented the review petition, assisted by Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir, Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiqui, and Barrister Najib Momen.

ATM Azharul Islam was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on December 30, 2014, after being convicted of six crimes against humanity in the Rangpur region during the Liberation War. The charges included genocide, murder, kidnapping, rape, detention, torture, and arson.

In October 2019, the Appellate Division, then headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, upheld the death penalty. Subsequently, Azharul Islam filed a review petition against this verdict, which has remained pending.

On January 28, 2015, Azhar’s legal team filed a 2,340-page appeal, including a 90-page main appeal, arguing for his acquittal on 113 grounds, asserting his innocence.

The upcoming review hearing marks the latest legal step in the case, which has drawn significant attention due to its connection to the atrocities of 1971.

The review petition’s outcome will be closely monitored, as it represents one of the key cases related to Bangladesh's ongoing efforts to seek justice for crimes committed during the Liberation War.

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