Online Desk  :   The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has begun the hearing for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam’s apepal against his death sentence in a case over ‘crimes against humanity’ during the 1971 Liberation War. A four-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, started the appeal hearing around 10:45am and set May 6 for next hearing in the full bench of the Appellate Division. Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq and advocate Muhammad Shishir Manir stood for ATM Azharul in the hearing, while additional attorney general Barrister Anik R Haque and additional attorney general Arshadul Rouf represented the state.

Earlier on Monday, April 21, an Appellate Division bench led by Justice Zubayer Rahman fixed today to hear the review petition. On February 26, a four-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, granted leave to appeal against the death sentence. The International Crimes Tribunal originally sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014 for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War in Rangpur. The verdict was upheld by the Appellate Division on October 31, 2019, under then Chief Justice Syed Mahmud. Azhar was found guilty of nine charges, including genocide, murder, kidnapping, rape, torture, looting, and arson.