Nizami ‘worried’ after hearing verdict

Death row war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami heard the Supreme Court verdict that upheld his death penalty this afternoon.

“After hearing the verdict, he seemed restless and worried,” Nasir Ahmed, jailer of Kashimpur Jail-2 where Nizami has been kept, told The Daily Star.

The apex court today dismissed Nizami’s appeal for reviewing a previous SC ruling upholding a trial court death penalty.

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Nizami is the ameer of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the party that opposed Bangladesh’s birth in 1971.

After the SC verdict today, he learned about the ruling from a radio bulletin, reports our district correspondent.

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Nizami did not say anything after hearing the news, Jailer Nasir Ahmed said.

After pronouncement of the verdict, security was beefed up at and around the prison, said officials.

Now, once the review against death has been dismissed, the government can initiate Nizami’s execution process. The final chance that he can avail is to beg for his life to the president.

Jail authorities can start preparation for execution after receiving today’s order.

International Crimes Tribunal-1 handed death penalty to Nizami on October 29, 2014. The 71-year-old was also given life imprisonment in four other charges of war crimes.

This year on January 6, the apex court upheld Nizami’s death in three of the charges. His death warrant was issued on March 15 after the Supreme Court’s full verdict was released.