The hearing on the appeal of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, has been adjourned until 17 August.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Justice Md Rezaul Haque, passed the order on Monday.
Advocate Ehsan A Siddiq represented the appellant, while Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam appeared on behalf of the prosecution. Azad had earlier filed the appeal seeking condonation of delay and a stay on the execution of his sentence until the final disposal of the appeal.
Maulana Azad, an expelled member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, was sentenced to death on 21 January 2013 by the International Crimes Tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan while he was still a fugitive. He faced charges of committing crimes against humanity at various locations in Faridpur during the 1971 Liberation War.
This was the first-ever verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
Azad had fled before the announcement of the verdict, leading to his trial and sentencing in absentia. He is widely known for hosting Islamic programmes on various private television channels.
Earlier, on 21 January, Azad surrendered before the International Crimes Tribunal. A three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, conducted the hearing on that day.
Following the hearing, the court directed the registrar office of the tribunal to supply necessary documents to Azad to enable him to file his appeal. Azad did not have to go to prison on the day of his surrender as his sentence had been stayed by a prior order of the president. Last year, Azad emerged from hiding.
Following an application, the president stayed his sentence for one year on the condition that he surrender and file an appeal, after which Azad surrendered before the tribunal.
Advocate Moshiul Alam, who represented Azad in the International Crimes Tribunal, briefed journalists after the hearing, saying Azad had been sentenced to death by the tribunal in 2013.
He explained that, following an application, the president stayed his sentence for one year last year on the condition of surrendering and filing an appeal.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification regarding this stay on 22 October. Alam added that Azad has surrendered and the court has accepted it, with directions issued to provide him with the documents for his appeal, meaning he will remain as he is for now.
