Deadline for appeal over
Convicted war criminal Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu has apparently lost his opportunity to appeal with the Appellate Division of Supreme Court as the deadline for appeal passed yesterday.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced the 65-year-old fugitive to death on January 21 convicting him on seven charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.
The expelled Jamaat-e-Islami member, popularly known as Bachchu Razakar, was found guilty of killing 14 Hindus, raping two women, torturing two other persons and setting homes ablaze in Faridpur during the Liberation War.
According to 21 (3) International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, any convict has the right to appeal within 30 days of verdict delivery.
However, some legal experts believe that if Azad is arrested or he surrenders now and seeks permission of the Appellate Division to file an appeal, the apex court has the discretionary power to consider.
Azad went into hiding hours before the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against him on April 3, 2012. The tribunal held his trial in absentia.
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