SC order on Kaiser appeal Jan 14

STAFF REPORTER, Dhaka

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday fixed January 14 for delivering its verdict on an appeal filed by war crimes convict Syed Mohammad Kaisar against his death penalty handed to him by the International Crimes Tribunal in 2014.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain fixed the date after concluding hearing on the appeal. Advocate AKM Shahjahan, one of the counsels for Kaiser, told reporters that they have submitted all documents and relevant facts regarding his client before the Supreme Court during the appeal hearing. “We hope that the apex court will acquit our client as he was not involved into the war crimes incident,” he added. He also informed that the 78-year-old Kaisar, a former state minister of HM Ershad regime, was innocent and was not involved in any crimes against humanity. On the other hand, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam requested to the Supreme Court to uphold the tribunal verdict that awarded him death penalty for crimes against humanity committed during the War of Liberation in 1971. “I hope that the apex court will uphold his death penalty considering the gravity of offence as we have able to prove the allegations brought against for war crimes,” the chief law officer of the state said. Syed Mohammed Kaiser was sentenced to death on December 23, 2014, for war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War.

Rifat Murder:  HC denies bail to two accused

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday rejected bail pleas of two accused in a case filed over the murder of Rifat Sharif in Bagruna.

The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Md Badruzzaman dismissed the petitions of Kamrul Islam Saimun and Rafiul Rabbi citing that those were not pressed.

Deputy Attorney General Yeasmin Bithi represented the state. The two accused filed the bail petitions with the High Court on November 24 as their petitions were rejected by the lower court. Rifat, 22, was hacked in broad daylight near the Barguna Govt College on June 26 last. The attack was caught on surveillance cameras. Twenty-four persons were accused in the murder case filed by Rifat’s father.  On September 1, police pressed charges against 24 people separating them into adult and underage.