State may file review seeking death penalty for Sayedee

The state has hinted at seeking a review of an Appellate Division verdict commuting war crimes convict Delwar Hossain Sayedee's death sentence.

However, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam on Tuesday said they would first go through the top court's full verdict on the Jamaat-e-Islami leader.

Until now, it was unclear whether an Appellate Division verdict could be reviewed. But publication of war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla's review verdict cleared the confusion.

Alam said both the defence and prosecution could seek a review of the top court's verdict.

The apex court rejected Jamaat leader Molla's review plea last December. He is the first war criminal to be executed.

An abridged version of the verdict published at the time did not mention whether the Appellate Division's sentence could be reviewed.

Most of those convicted of war crimes are former and current leaders of Jamaat, a party itself accused of committing war crimes.

The issue of a review of the top court's verdict again came to light after the death verdict of another Jamaat leader Mohammad Kamaruzzaman was upheld earlier this month.

The prosecution has been saying the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act does not allow a review but the defence has been saying it is a Constitutional right applicable to everyone.

Molla's full verdict says review petitions filed by the war crimes convicts would be maintainable but it would not equate to an appeal.

However, the review plea must be filed within 15 days, since the 30-day period of limitation followed in regular cases will not apply in such cases, the full verdict said.

Although the prosecution said it was not content with Sayedee's verdict, it did not say anything about seeking a review.

But now, the attorney general has hinted at taking up the chance to get a review of Sayedee's commuted sentence.

The war criminal's family has been saying they would seek his acquittal through a review. But they will have to wait as Sayedee's full verdict is yet to be published.

Attorney General Alam said they would first analyse the war crimes convict's verdict.

"We'll seek a review if we find elements in it [that will allow the move]," he told reporters in response to a question.