The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the death penalty of Jatiya Party leader Syed Mohammad Qaiser, handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal for wartime offences committed during the War of Liberation in 1971. After allowing appeal in part filed by Qaiser challenging the International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict that sentenced him to death, the four member bench of the Appellate Division headed by headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain delivered the verdict at 9:05am yesterday. The Appellate Division acquitted Qaiser of charges of 1, 2, 3 and 11. His conviction in respect to charges 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 has been maintained. His conviction in respect to charge numbers 5, 8, 12 and 16 has also been maintained by majority. His conviction in respect to charge numbers 6, 8 and 10 has been commuted to imprisonment for life, according to the Supreme Court verdict. However, the grounds and observations, on which the apex court has delivered the verdict, could not be known immediately as its full text has not yet been released. After the apex court verdict, Advocate SM Shajahan, counsel for the appellant, told reporters that his client would file a review petition after receiving the copy of the apex court verdict.

“After scrutinizing the apex court verdict we would move before the apex court again seeking review of its verdict,” he added. On the other hand, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told reporters that for the first time the apex court has upheld death penalty to an accused on charge of assisting in rape. “Victim recorded statements before the court and her daughter also gave deposition regarding the matter. After scrutinizing documents, the apex court upheld his death penalty unanimously,” the chief law officer of the state said.  Following the SC verdict, the convicted JP leader can now file a petition with the Supreme Court seeking a review of its judgment.