APPEAL AGAINST DEATH PENALTY Sayedee asks 2 judges to stay away from appeal hearing

This file photo shows Delwar Hossain Sayedee escorted by law enforcers while appearing in court.

This file photo shows Delawar Hossain Sayedee escorted by law enforcers while appearing in court.

Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee Wednesday filed two petitions with the Supreme Court urging its two judges to refrain from the war crimes case against him.

Sayedee took the initiative fearing that the judges —- Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha and Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik–may be biased in dealing with the appeal, as they have reportedly made statements against the accused war criminals.

In the petition, Sayedee prayed to the court to pass an order so that the two judges do not involve themselves in the hearing on the appeal filed by him challenging the death penalty awarded to him by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in connection with crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Advocate Tajul Islam, a lawyer for Sayedee told The Daily Star that the Supreme Court is yet to fix any date for the hearing on the appeals.

Meanwhile, the five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain continued hearing on Sayedee’s appeal today (Wednesday) that started on Tuesday.

SM Shahjahan, a counsel of Sayedee read out from 21 to 29 pages of the 120-page verdict given by the tribunal.

The court also fixed Thursday for further hearing.

Source: The Daily Star