The Supreme Court schedules a review hearing for Jamaat leader Azhar's death sentence on January 23

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing for Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam's review petition on January 23. The petition seeks reconsideration of his death sentence for crimes against humanity, including murder and genocide, committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed, issued the order on Thursday, according to local media reports.

ATM Azharul Islam initially filed the 23-page review petition on July 19, 2020, presenting 14 arguments for reconsideration.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced Azhar to death on December 30, 2014. Following his appeal, the Appellate Division, under a bench led by then-Chief Justice Syed Mahmud, upheld the death penalty in a verdict delivered on October 31, 2019.

The Appellate Division released the full text of its verdict on March 15, 2020, which prompted Azhar to file the review petition.