Jamaat to stage mass sit-in near CA’s office demanding ATM Azhar’s release
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called a mass sit-in programme in front of the office of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday to secure the unconditional release of party leader ATM Azharul Islam from prison.
The demonstration will be held for three hours from 2pm to 4pm, and its key participants would include party chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the Islamic party said in a statement Friday.
ATM Azhar has spent nearly 13 years in prison on accusations of committing crimes against humanity at the behest of Pakistani occupying forces during the Liberation War of 1971. In December 2014, he was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal, which was heavily politicised by the then autocratic Awami League regime.
The Amnesty International and other human rights groups have raised concerns about the fairness of the Awami League-era trial against ATM Azhar, citing irregularities in the proceedings.
Following the ouster of the Awami League regime on 5 August, Jamaat has repeatedly called for his release.
In a statement on Friday, the party said the current interim administration have released many leaders and activists of the political parties opposed to the ousted Awami League regime. However, six months into office, the government is yet to release ATM Azharul Islam.
