‘Sayedee’s crimes worse than Molla’s’

The attorney general has said Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s crimes against humanity were far more terrible than those of his Jamaat-e-Islami comrade Abdul Quader Molla.

The Jamaat leader’s death penalty for war crimes should be upheld, Mahbubey Alam told an Appellate Division bench on Thursday, the last day for arguments from the state side.

A five-strong bench led by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain heard the attorney general.

Quader Molla’s death verdict came from a full bench of the Appellate Division, which upturned the International Crimes Tribunal’s life sentence.

The next hearing is due on Sunday when the defence will reply to the state’s arguments. Then the state may give further replies if it wants. After that the case will be kept waiting for verdict.

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The attorney general said in the case against Quader Molla, Momena’s witness account was sufficient to get him a death penalty.

“In Sayedee’s case there are many such reliable witnesses. Their statements show, Sayedee’s crimes are even worse. He has done everything, from murder, to rape, looting, arson and soliciting the Pakistan army,” Alam said.

“He has done something even worse than murder. He has forcefully converted people from their religion.”

The court asked him whether Sayedee was physically present while these crimes were committed.

Attorney Genral Alam replied that he was present in all instances.

“He was there, and he was instructing the Razakars and the Pak army in Urdu to shoot,” he said.

“Sometimes he was telling the Hindus to convert to Islam or lose their lives. What can be a more heinous crime?” he said.

The attorney general argued that for the sake of justice, the tribunal’s verdict should be upheld at the Appellate Division.

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

Of the 20 charges against him, Sayedee was given the death penalty for two – the murder of Ibrahim Kutti and Bisabali, and the torching of Hindu houses 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 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 last year.