Jamaat-e-Islami, which is facing investigation over war crimes committed during 1971 Liberation War, has demanded release of its leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee.
The senior Jamaat leader is a war crimes convict and the verdict on his appeal against his death sentence is expected on Wednesday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Jamaat’s acting chief Moqbul Ahmed said Sayedee was a victim of political vengeance and was illegally incarcerated by the government.
The International Crimes Tribunal on Feb 28 last year ordered Sayedee’s execution for his involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
Of the 20 charges against him, Sayedee was given the death penalty for two – the murder of Ibrahim Kutti and Bisabali, and for setting fire to Hindu households in Pirojpur district in 1971.
Six other charges were also proven beyond doubt, but no sentencing followed as he had already been given the death penalty.
File Photo
Jamaat supporters across Bangladesh went berserk after the verdict. Over 70 people, including policemen, were killed and over 200 injured in the violence.
Numerous vehicles, houses, shops and Hindu communities were also attacked, vandalised and torched.
Sayedee had, on Mar 28 last year, appealed against the death sentence, seeking acquittal.
An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain will deliver the verdict on his appeal on Wednesday, according to the cause list on the Supreme Court’s website.
Earlier, Jamaat, which had opposed Bangladesh’s freedom in 1971, had enforced countrywide general strikes on the day of verdicts on several of its leaders.
But after the Election Commission cancelled its registration as a political party, some of its leaders faced contempt of court charges for calling strikes.
The party has not announced any strike for Wednesday yet.
Moqbul Ahmed in the statement claimed Sayedee was ‘accused and tried in a false case in the International Crimes Tribunal and was given the punishment based on false witnesses’.
Source: Bd news24
