Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Md. Aminul Islam has said there is no scope for an appeal against a tribunal verdict if it is not filed within the stipulated 30-day period.

He said the law applies equally to everyone, whether it is fugitive Maulana Abul Kalam Azad or former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death. Once the prescribed deadline expires, there is no further opportunity to appeal, he said.

He made the remarks on Monday (September 7) in response to a question from journalists about Abul Kalam Azad’s appeal at a press conference held at his office.

Aminul Islam said the tribunal had sentenced Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to death. For whatever reason, he had remained outside the country for a long time and did not file an appeal.

“Section 21(3) of our law clearly states that an appeal must be filed within 30 days of the pronouncement of the judgment. If an appeal is not filed within that period, it will no longer be maintainable. This applies to everyone,” he said.

“Whether a person is a fugitive or in prison, an appeal must be filed within 30 days. So, it applies equally to Sheikh Hasina and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,” the chief prosecutor added.

He said the Appellate Division recently held a hearing on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s case. “I presented these legal provisions on behalf of the prosecution. Moreover, the Appellate Division has not yet admitted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s appeal. Therefore, there is currently no pending proceeding before the Appellate Division in this regard,” he said.

“I think Abul Kalam Azad’s lawyers have also been able to properly understand the legal position. That is why they have not taken any further necessary steps in this matter,” he added.

Referring to the government’s authority to suspend any sentence, Aminul Islam said that if a person does not appeal within 30 days of the verdict, there would be no further legal avenue to seek a remedy before any other forum.

“Therefore, once 30 days have elapsed following a verdict delivered by the tribunal, I do not see any alternative other than implementing the verdict,” he said.

However, he noted that the government has the authority to suspend any sentence.

“This is an inherent power of the government. It may exercise that power in the case of anyone, or it may choose not to. That is entirely at the government’s discretion,” the chief prosecutor said.