It may take a few months
Execution of condemned war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman might take a few months' time, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam hinted yesterday.
The state's top counsel also opined that the death sentence can be executed on the basis of a short order of the Supreme Court.
However, citing the execution of another Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah, he said the SC verdict in Mollah's case was released after 75 days and he was executed in 82 days after the SC sentenced him to death last year for war crimes.
“I feel that it may not take that many days for the release of the full judgment on Kamaruzzaman's case,” he told reporters at a press briefing at his office. But the apex court has not sent any such order to International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 yet. It appears that the SC will send the full verdict to the tribunal for its execution, which may take some time, he said.
Mahbubey Alam said after receiving the SC verdict, the ICT-2 will issue a death warrant against Kamaruzzaman, if nothing otherwise is stated in the full verdict, and then the jail authorities will take steps for his execution.
Kamaruzzaman's death sentence will be executed under the government decision, as per the Section 20(3) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, the attorney general added.
“According to my view, war crimes convicts, including Kamaruzzaman, have no right to move review petitions before the Supreme Court as per Article 47 of the constitution,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kamaruzzaman's son Hasan Ikbal termed the SC verdict that upheld the death penalty to his father “a perverse judgement” and reiterated the claims of innocence.
Kamaruzzaman's death sentence is unjust as he was not involved in any killing including the incident of mass killing at Sohagpur in Sherpur, Ikbal claimed at a press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium in presence of other family members.
He referred to a write up by journalist Afsan Chowdhury, “In Srabon I Remember the Massacre of Shohagpur in 1971”, stating that names of people who committed the mass killings mentioned in it did not include that of his father's.
Replying to a question, Ikbal reiterated that his father will decide on seeking presidential mercy after the SC disposes of the review petition, which will be filed after the full judgement of the verdict is released.
On November 3, the SC upheld the death penalty for Kamaruzzaman, a key organiser of the infamous Al-Badr Bahini responsible for abducting, torturing and killing freedom fighters, intellectuals and pro-liberation people in 1971.
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