Quader Molla’s defence to go for review

Chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq has said they would file a plea for a review of the Supreme Court verdict that handed down death sentence to Abdul Quader Molla even though the Attorney General says there is no such scope.

Razzaq did not comment on whether Molla would seek presidential clemency saying it was for Jamaat leader’s family to decide.

A five-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, overturned a trial court verdict and awarded the Jamaat Assistant Secretary General death on Tuesday.

After the verdict, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said there was no scope of further appeal for reviewing the verdict but Molla could seek presidential mercy.

Razzaq said: “We will file a review petition within 30 days of receiving the full verdict.”

“We are respectful of the highest court in the land and we are bound to accept this verdict,” he said in his reaction.

Also an Assistant Secretary General of the Jamaat, Razzaq termed the verdict ‘wrong’ and a ‘sad episode’ in the history of justice.

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Responding to the Attorney General’s contention that there was no scope to file a review plea since the trial was conducted under a special law, he said, “Pleading for a review is Quader Molla’s constitutional right.

“The Supreme Court was created by the Constitution, not by the ICT Act,” he reasoned.

Razzaq said the matter of presidential pardon would follow review.

Bangladesh Bar Council Chairman Khandker Mahbub Hossain echoed Razzaq. “It is a wrong verdict. We’ll file a review to correct this mistake.”

Hossain, an Advisor to Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Jamaat’s key ally BNP, said death sentence was a controversial issue all over the world.

“The Appellate Division handed him (Molla) death sentence based on the same evidence for which the trial court had sentenced him to life,” he said.

BNP leader and former Law Minister Moudud Ahmed was present at the briefing but he declined to comment saying he was present there as a lawyer.

“I will not make any comment on the matter since I belong to a party,” said the BNP Standing Committee member.

“The party will formally give its reaction if it has any,” he said.