United News of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court  on Tuesday acquitted Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in a case over crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order. Earlier on April 22, the Appellate Division stayed the hearing of a review petition submitted by Azharul Islam in the case till May 6. Following his arrest, Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azhar faced nine charges of crimes against humanity. According to the chargesheet, he was “responsible” for killing 1,256 people, abducting 17, and raping 13 women during the Liberation War in Rangpur region. Besides, he was said to have tortured civilians, set fire to hundreds of houses and committed other atrocities. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014, in five out of the nine charges. On January 28, 2015, the death-row convict submitted a petition to the Appellate Division claiming his innocence. Later, on July 19, 2020, Azharul Islam filed the review petition with the relevant branch of the Appellate Division. Following an appeal hearing, the Appellate Division under a bench led by then-Chief Justice Syed Mahmud upheld the death penalty in a verdict delivered on October 23, 2019. The full text of the Appellate Division’s verdict was released on March 15, 2020, after which ATM Azhar submitted the review petition.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said that their movement will continue until the release of its Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam and the restoration of the party's registration. "He (Azharul) has been languishing in jail for 12-13 years without committing any crime. We don't want him to stay even for 13 more minutes in jail. We are humble but not fool. Don’t make a mistake by treating our politeness as weakness," he told a rally organised in Baitul Mukarram area in Dhaka demanding Azharul Islam’s release. The Jamaat Ameer also called for the immediate reinstatement of the party’s registration, asking, “Do you want to do what the oppressive government did? Did students and the public sacrifice their lives for this?” He emphasised that their struggle is yet to be ended. “The war is ongoing. Thousands of students and common people are ready to give their lives on the streets. All conspiracies have been thwarted by them.” UN report exposes genocide under Hasina: Jamaat Ameer The rally spanning areas around Paltan, Baitul Mukarram, Nightingale, Kakrail, Zero Point, and the Press Club drew a huge gathering of party members. Following the rally, a protest procession led by Ameer was brought out. Earlier, on February 17, in a statement, Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Parwar called on party leaders, workers, and people from all walks of life to ensure the success of the rally and the protest march.