National

Mir Quasem’s review hearing on Sunday

The Supreme Court (SC) will hear the review plea filed by war crimes convict and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali challenging the death penalty on next Sunday.A five-member full bench of the Appellate Division of SC headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha conducted the hearing.The other members include Justices Syed Mahmud Hossain, Hasan Foez Siddique, Mirza Hossain Haidar and Mohammad Bazlur Rahman.Lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain has moved for Mir Quasem Ali in the court.On July 25, the apex court set August 24 for holding the hearing while accepting the time plea filed by Mir Quasem.The International Crimes Tribunal had awarded capital punishment to Quasem, now 64, on November 3, 2014. As many as 24 prosecution witnesses testified against Quasem.The tribunal handed down the death penalty on two charges including killing seven people after abduction. He was also awarded a total of 72-year imprisonment on eight other proven charges of abduction, conspiracy and planning.