War crimes: Several appeals to be disposed of by Dec, says AG

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam today expressed hope that several appeals moved by convicted war criminals will be disposed of this year.

The appeals of Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury are now in the hearing list of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, he said.

Hearing into these appeals may begin within few weeks, Mahbubey Alam told reporters at his office this afternoon.

He said the SC could not hear more appeal due to its long vacations.

He expressed satisfaction at the execution of war criminal Muhammad Kamruzzaman last night.

He also expressed satisfaction the speed of appeal settlement.

He regretted that Delawar Hossain Sayedee, a key leader of the Jamaat who faced allegations of several major wartime offences, was not sentenced to death due to weakness of investigation.

Appeals of eight war criminals are now pending with the SC. Apart from Jamaat Secretary General Mojaheed and BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader, other appellants are: Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and its leaders Mir Quasem Ali, ATM Azharul Islam and Abdus Subhan, expelled Awami League leader of Brahmanbaria Mobarak Hossain, and former state minister of HM Ershad's government Syed Mohammad Qaisar.

The International Crimes Tribunals, on different dates, had convicted and sentenced them to death for their crimes against humanity during the country's Liberation War in 1971.