Jamaat Amir announces voluntary imprisonment!

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has announced voluntary imprisonment demanding the release of the party's former acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam.

In a post on his verified Facebook account at 5 pm on Thursday, he said,

"The oppressed people's leader ATM Azharul Islam, a victim of the brutal oppression of fascism, is still imprisoned. Even though all national leaders have been released, he is still carrying the heavy burden of life as a victim of discrimination and oppression."

He further added, "It is absolutely not possible for me to keep him in prison and stay outside. We have given the government enough time. I am preparing to appear in the court premises on February 25 to protest this oppression and get myself arrested. The Ministry of Law and Home Affairs will arrest me and send me to prison."

Although the review petition against the death sentence of ATM Azharul Islam was on the agenda today, the hearing was not held due to lack of time. Although the case was on list number 9, the court ran out of time after hearing item number 5.

On December 30, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal announced the death sentence of Azharul Islam for crimes against humanity. Later, on October 23, 2019, the Appellate Division upheld the verdict. A review petition was also filed against that verdict.

It is learned that the court will set a new date for the next hearing.