SC acquits ATM Azhar of 1971 war crimes
Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) of Bangladesh has acquitted former acting Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, ATM Azharul Islam, of all charges relating to crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
The landmark verdict was delivered on Tuesday morning by a seven-member full bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. Azhar, who had previously been sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in 2014, had appealed the conviction. Although the Supreme Court initially upheld the death sentence on 31 October 2019, a review petition – filed on 19 July 2020, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government-was later accepted.
After extensive hearings that commenced on 26 February 2025, the Appellate Division handed down its judgment, acquitting Azhar of all charges.
Senior advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir, supported by barrister Syed Md. Raihan Uddin, represented Azhar in the legal proceedings. The state was represented by Additional Attorney General Mohammad Anik Rushed Haque and Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim.
Speaking at a press briefing following the announcement, advocate Shishir Monir stated: “First and foremost, we express our gratitude to Almighty Allah. The full bench of the Supreme Court has acquitted ATM Azharul Islam of all allegations. From today, he is an innocent man. Justice has finally been served. This verdict marks the end of a chapter of syndicate-driven injustice.”
The court made four key observations in its ruling. They are previous rulings had significantly altered the judicial procedures of Bangladesh and the broader subcontinental legal framework, representing a grave error, the ICT’s death sentence had been passed without due assessment of the available evidence, the original verdict constituted a “travesty of truth” and a miscarriage of justice and the evidence had not been adequately considered by the lower courts.
Advocate Monir further alleged that at least five leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had been executed, and six others died in custody, under what he described as “questionable legal processes”.
“This is an unprecedented chapter in the history of legal persecution,” Monir said. “Today’s verdict is not only significant for Bangladesh; it may also serve as a milestone for international justice.”
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, welcomed the verdict in a public statement: “Alhamdulillah, our revered leader ATM Azharul Islam has been acquitted of all false charges. We had long awaited such a just outcome.”
Azhar’s son also expressed gratitude and called for continued prayers, while thanking the party for its enduring support throughout his father’s prolonged legal battle.
The acquittal has generated considerable discussion in both legal and political circles, with many interpreting the ruling as indicative of a broader shift in the post-Hasina judicial landscape. Critics and supporters alike are watching closely to see how this decision may influence future reviews of convictions handed down by the war crimes tribunal.