Sayedee appeal hearing ends

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ended the hearing on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s appeal against his death sentence meted out by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, ended hearing of both the prosecution and defence on Tuesday but did not declare the petition as awaiting verdict.

Rather, it scheduled the orders on two petitions, one from the defence and one from the prosecution, on Wednesday.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was present in the hearing. He was assisted by Additional Attorney General MK Rahman.

Khandker Mahbub Hossain and SM Shahjahan argued for the defence.

The court said during the hearing, “How much time should we give you? The hearing has been going on for months. You are now repeating yourselves.

“This is not Appellate Tribunal, this is Appellate Division. Tribunal cases aren’t the only thing we hear,” it said.

On Feb 28 last year, the ICT-1 had ordered Sayedee’s execution for his involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

Of the 20 charges against him, Sayedee was given the death penalty for two – the murder of Ibrahim Kutti and Bisabali, and for setting fire to Hindu households in Pirojpur district in 1971.

Six other charges were also proven beyond doubt but no sentencing followed as he had already been given the death penalty.

Sayedee had, on Mar 28 last year, appealed against the death sentence, seeking acquittal.

The prosecution has appealed for punishment for the six other proven charges for the sake of 'full justice'.

The hearing of Sayedee’s appeal began on Sep 24.

The Tribunal in its first verdict on Jan 21 last year had ordered the death sentence to former Jamaat leader Abul Kalam Azad aka Bachchu Razakar. But he has not appealed against the verdict as he has been absconding.

In its second verdict on Feb 5 that year the Tribunal had sentenced Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla to life.

However, the Supreme Court, on Sept 17, had sentenced Molla to death after hearing appeals filed by Molla and the prosecution.

Molla was hanged on Dec 12.

The Tribunal ordered Sayedee’s death sentence in the third verdict.

Six more judgments are pending.