DHAKA, – The Supreme Court (SC) today upheld the death sentence of Jatiya Party leader and former state minister Syed Mohammad Qaiser for his collaboration in crimes against humanity committed during the War of Liberation in 1971.

A four-member appellate division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, delivered the verdict this morning.

However, the convicted is allowed to file a petition with the Supreme Court seeking review of its judgment, after he receives the certified copy of the verdict from the court. Earlier, on February 2, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 indicted Qaisar to 16 charges.

On December 23, 2014 the ICT-2 awarded him death penalty on the charges crimes against humanity in Habiganj area during the country’s Liberation War by forming an anti-liberation group named “Qaisar Group”.

Later, Qaisar filed an appeal with the appellate division seeking acquittal of the charges in which he has been convicted and sentenced.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was prosecutor in the appeal court while SM Shahjahan stood as defense lawyer.