Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, who had been on death row for war crimes, was released from custody on Wednesday morning鈥攋ust a day after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court overturned his conviction for crimes against humanity committed during the War of Independence in 1971.
Deputy inspector general of prisons for Dhaka Division Jahangir Kabir told 抖阴精品 that Azharul was released from the prison cell at Bangladesh Medical University at about 9:05am.
鈥楢lthough he has been freed from the war crimes conviction, a total of 10 other cases remain pending against him,鈥� Jahangir added.
After his release, Azharul was then escorted out of the hospital in a black vehicle, accompanied by Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, to a reception programme in the capital鈥檚 Shahbagh.
Jamaat organised the reception at Shahbagh crossing to celebrate his release from the prisons where a huge number of party leaders and activists were present.
Traffic movement was disrupted in Shahbagh area due to the reception programme.
Addressing the reception event, Azharul said that he was garlanded floral wreath instead of being hanged from the gallows.
He expressed his gratitude to the Almighty for granting him a chance to live. He also thanked the judiciary and the heroes of the July uprising.
As a leader of Jamaat he wanted to serve the nation the rest of his life, he said.
鈥業 was released this morning after being in prison for almost 14 years. I am now free. I am a free citizen in a free country,鈥� he said.
Azharul also claimed that Jamaat leaders Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Kamaruzzaman, Abdul Quader Mollah and Mir Quasem Ali were subjected to 鈥榡udicial killings鈥�.
鈥楢ll those involved in these killings at whatever level should be tried. Otherwise, this wicked culture will continue. We have to get out of here,鈥� he added.
Ameer of Jamaat Shafiqur Rahman at the event greeted the leader, saying by the grace of Allah their leader was freed.
Acting secretary general of the party ATM Masum conducted the programme.
Earlier on Tuesday, a seven-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, unanimously scrapped its own 2019 judgment that had upheld the death sentence against Azharul.
The court also overturned the original 2014 verdict issued by International Crimes Tribunal-1 which had sentenced him to death for mass killings and other atrocities in Rangpur in 1971.
The apex court, in its ruling, observed that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and noted serious procedural and evidentiary shortcomings in both the tribunal and earlier appellate proceedings.
