The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, May 27, by a seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Earlier, the final hearing on Azharul Islam’s appeal against his death sentence concluded on May 8. Following the hearing, the court scheduled May 27 for the announcement of the verdict.
ATM Azharul Islam was originally sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on December 30, 2014. He filed an appeal against the verdict on January 28, 2015. The Appellate Division initially upheld the death sentence on October 31, 2019. Azhar subsequently filed a review petition challenging that decision.
The full verdict of the Appellate Division was published on March 15, 2020. On July 19 of the same year, Azharul Islam submitted a petition seeking a reconsideration of the verdict.
In a rare legal move, the Appellate Division agreed on February 26 to hear the appeal again following the review—marking the first time a crimes against humanity case has been reopened at the review stage.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented ATM Azharul Islam during the proceedings, assisted by Advocate Raihan Uddin and Barrister Najib Momen.
The initial hearing of the appeal began on May 6, with the next session held on May 8. After concluding the hearings, the court fixed May 27 for delivering the final verdict.
ATM Azharul Islam was arrested on August 22, 2012, from his residence in Moghbazar, Dhaka, in connection with the war crimes charges. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
This acquittal marks a notable shift in the judicial proceedings surrounding Bangladesh’s war crimes trials.
