The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on May 27 in the appeal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, who was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

A seven-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday fixed the date after concluding the hearing on Azhar’s petition challenging the sentence.

Defence counsel Mohammad Shishir Monir represented Azharul Islam, while Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim appeared on behalf of the state.

Azhar, a former assistant secretary general of Jamaat, was convicted in 2014 by the International Crimes Tribunal on multiple charges including genocide, murder, rape, abduction, torture, arson, and looting in the Rangpur region during the war. 

He was sentenced to death on three counts, received a 25-year prison term for other inhumane acts, and five years for torture.

The Appellate Division upheld the death sentence on October 31, 2019, with a majority opinion, while acquitting him on one charge.

Following the publication of the full verdict in March 2020, Azhar filed a review petition in July that year, citing 14 legal grounds across 23 pages. On February 26 this year, the apex court granted him permission to appeal.

Azhar has consistently denied the charges.

SMS/