Kamaruzzaman review on Appellate Division’s Monday cause list

War criminal Mohammad Kamaruzzaman’s review petition, seeking to overturn his death sentence, has been included in the Appellate Division’s Monday’s cause list.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha-led four member bench will hear the petition.

Chamber Judge Hasan Foez Siddique on Sunday fixed the date after hearing the state’s petition.

“It’s been included in tomorrow’s (Monday) cause list. The Appellate Division may announce a date for the hearing,” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said.

He had earlier told bdnews24.com that the hearing would start Monday.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Kamaruzzaman was sentenced to death by a special tribunal in May 2013 for his Liberation War-time atrocities which, the top court described as ‘worse than the Nazis’.

The Appellate Division upheld the death sentence and a death warrant was issued on Feb 19.

The defence counsel filed the review on Mar 5. Attorney General Alam said the review had halted the verdict execution process.

On Sunday chief defence counsel Khandker Mahbub Hossain sought four weeks’ time to hear the review citing personal reasons.

Alam hoped the review hearing would be wrapped up quickly.

The apex court said in war criminal Abdul Quader Molla’s review verdict that it was a “review” and not an “appeal” -- hence, there was no need for an elaborate hearing.

It directed the petitioners to ‘point out’ if there had been any ‘mistakes’ on the part of the court.

“If it feels necessary, the court will fix it (mistake). This (review) has to be resolved as soon as possible,” Alam said, adding the bench that have gave the verdict would hold the hearing.

Kamaruzzaman can seek mercy from the president if his review is scrapped.

The attorney general pointed out that jail code would not be applicable while executing war crimes verdicts as noted by the top court in Molla’s review.