The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will hear Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam's review petition concerning his death sentence for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War on Tuesday.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, issued the order on Saturday.
Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman presented the matter for hearing. Also present in court were Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and Azharul's defense lawyer, Mohammad Shishir Monir.
The Attorney General informed the Appellate Division that Azharul’s review petition had been scheduled for hearing on February 20 but was not heard that day. He emphasised the need for the petition to be heard, prompting the court to reschedule the matter for Tuesday.
On July 19, 2020, the defence filed a 23-page review petition, seeking Azharul’s acquittal on 14 grounds.
The Supreme Court upheld Azharul’s death sentence in its judgment on October 31, 2019. The full text of the judgment was released on March 25, 2020.
Azharul was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) on December 30, 2014, for his involvement in crimes against humanity in Rangpur during the Liberation War. The tribunal found him guilty on five of the six charges brought against him.
He filed an appeal against his conviction on January 28, 2015.