DHAKA, Feb 02, 2022 (BSS) – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today abated appeals of two Razakars from Keshabpur, Jashore, against their conviction and sentences by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, as the two have already died of natural causes in police custody. 

“Criminal appeal number 136/2016 with jail appeal number 05/16 and 06/16 are abated,” the apex court order said. 

An Appellate Division virtual bench headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order as the matter came before it for hearing. 

Keshabpur Razakar commander Sakhawat Hossain and his accomplice Md Billal Hossain along with their six other partners in crimes were convicted by the ICT-1 in 2016 for their crimes against humanity in 1971. Sakhawat and Billal, who were arrested in this case and were behind the bars during the pronouncement of the judgment, were sentenced to death and imprisonment till death respectively. 

The two later had filed appeals against their conviction with the Appellate Division. But Billal died in 2018 and Sakhawat died recently in jail, before the hearing of their appeals. 

Sakhwat was elected member of parliament from Jashore-6 constituency from Jamaat-e-Islami and joined BNP in 1995. He later joined Jatiya Party and was presidium member of the party.