The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 led by ATM Fazle Kabir passed the verdict against Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedee (then called Delwar Hossain Sikdar, an allegation that Sayedee rejects) awarding him death by hanging on Thursday. While reading out the verdict, tribunal chairman ATM Fazle Kabir informed the court that eight out of all 20 allegations brought against Sayedee were proved beyond doubt. He was sentenced to death in two cases—filed for the killing of Ibrahim Kutti and Bisha Bali.
The following were the charges brought against Sayedee: Sayedee was involved in the killing of three Bangalee government officials in the then sub-division of Pirojpur and throwing their bodies into the Baleshwar river.
On May 4, 1971, Pakistani Army killed 20 people, a ‘group of individuals, at Madhya Masimpur bus-stand in Pirojpur after getting information from Sayedee as a member of Peace (Shanti) Committee.
Later on the day, Sayedee along with his associates took the Pakistani Army to Masimpur Hindu Para under Pirozpur Sadar Police Station looted and torched Hindu households. When the victims began to flee Sayedee and others opened fire, leaving 13 civilians killed.
During the liberation war, Sayedee led a group of 10-12 armed Razakars and peace Committee members and surrounded the house of Gouranga Saha of Parerhat. Subsequently Sayedee and others abducted Gouranga’s three sisters and handed them to the local army camp where they were confined and raped for three days.
Being a member of collaborator force Razakar, Sayedee exercised his power to convert 100-150 Hindus of Parerhat and other villages to Islam and forced them to go to mosque to pray.
On Jun 6, 1971 around 9am, Sayedee allegedly led armed associates, accompanied with Pakistani Army, and raided the house of Abdul Halim Babul at Nalbunia village. The house was then burnt to ashes.
Based on these accusations, Sayedee is charged with their murder, genocide, persecution, assisting abduction abetting torture, confinement and rape, destruction of a certain community.
Sayedee was arrested on June 29 in 2010, from his house in the capital’s Shahidbagh area in connection with a criminal case filed for hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims.
Later, on 2 November of the same year, the tribunal allowed a prosecution plea that sought detention order against Sayedee for conducting investigation into the allegations of crimes against humanity during liberation war.
On January 21 in 2013, International Crimes Tribunal termed Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami liable for massacre during liberation war in 1971.
Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu was sentenced to death and Abdul Quader Mollah was awarded lifetime imprisonment for their involvement in crimes against humanity during liberation was in 1971.
