SC fixes Sept 17 to start hearing on appeals

The Supreme Court yesterday fixed September 17 to start hearing on the separate appeals filed by Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee and the government challenging the war crimes trial verdict against him.
On February 28, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Sayedee to death on two charges although it had found him guilty on eight out of 20 charges brought against him.
Sayedee on March 28 filed an appeal with the SC seeking acquittal of all the eight charges.
The government on the same day submitted another appeal to the apex court for seeking Sayedee death penalty in all the eight charges, which were proved before the tribunal.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain fixed the date after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution.
Defence counsel Abdur Razzaq prayed to the court to start hearing on the appeals two weeks after reopening of the court on September 15.
On the other hand, Additional Attorney General MK Rahman requested the court to hear the appeals during the vacation period that starts from August 2 for their quick disposal.