Kamaruzzaman’s execution may take time: AG
The execution of condemned war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman might take time, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam hinted today.
“The Appellate Division has not issued an order to execute Kamaruzzaman yet. It appears that the apex court will deliver the full verdict before ordering for execution,” he told reporters at a press briefing at his office on the High Court premises this afternoon.
However, he did not specify as to how long it might take to execute the criminal who was handed death for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of 1971.
Mahbubey Alam said the Supreme Court will send its full verdict to the International Crimes Tribunal. “The tribunal will send Kamaruzzaman’s death warrant to the jail authorities if nothing otherwise is stated in the full verdict,” he said.
“It will then be upon the government,” the attorney general added.
Meanwhile, Hasan Iqbal, son of the Jamaat-e-Islami leader, termed the Supreme Court verdict that upheld the death penalty to his father “a perverse judgement”.
Kamaruzzaman’s death sentence is unjust as he was not involved in any killing including the Sohagpur incident, Iqbal told a press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium where other family members of Kamaruzzaman were also present.
“My father is completely innocent,” Iqbal said adding that Kamaruzzaman was implicated in a war crimes case for political reason.
“We hope that the Appellate Division will establish justice by reconsidering the judgement and acquitting him from the charges,” he said.
Replying to a question, Iqbal reiterated that his father will decide about presidential mercy after the SC disposes of review petition to be filed with the apex court after getting the full judgement of the verdict.
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.
The international community, including two United Nations’ rights workers and the Human Rights Watch, have apprehended the death penalty and urged the government of Bangladesh to halt the war criminal’s execution immediately.
However, the Dhaka jail has already been asked to prepare for the execution.
There has been confusion as to whether Kamaruzzaman can appeal for a review against the apex court judgement.
IQBAL’S STATEMENT “CONTEMPTUOUS”
At the briefing, AG Mahbubey Alam terms the statement of Iqbal “contemptuous”.
A war criminal’s son has made an “arrogant and indecent” statement about the SC verdict, which is regretting, the attorney general said.
Ruling out Iqbal’s claim that his father is innocent, Alam said the apex court has delivered the judgement after examining arguments from both the prosecution and defence.
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