The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today set January 14 to pronounce its judgement on appeal filed by Syed Mohammad Qaiser, challenging his death sentence awarded by now defunct International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on December 23, 2014, reports BSS.
A four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set the date as both prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the case today.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued for upholding Qaiser’s death sentence, while defence counsel SM Shahjahan stood for his acquittal. It is the ninth crimes against humanity case, which is going to be disposed of at the apex court.
The ICT-2, which remains non-functioning since September 15, 2015, had sentenced the leader of pro-Pakistani militia group Qaiser Bahini to death as the 14 charges out of the total sixteen framed against him were proven beyond any reasonable doubt.
According to the prosecution, the force he raised named after himself - the Qaisar Bahini - had their own uniforms with caps and belts. The gang members used to wear caps with inscription of “Qaisar”.
Qaiser, the founder of Saiham Textiles and ex-MP and state minister during the Jatiya Party rule, was found guilty for carrying out mass-killing, murders, rapes, and abduction among other crimes.
The prosecution in their closing arguments had said Qaiser played the role of a Dragon in the crimes that took place in the vast areas of Habiganj, Madhobpur and Brahmanbaria in 1971.