Bangladesh’s Appellate Division has set August 31 for hearing Abul Kalam Azad’s appeal against a death sentence in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. A three-member bench led by Justice Md. Rezaul Haque fixed the new date after a hearing on Monday.

The Appellate Division had previously adjourned the hearing until August 17 following a request for time from the state side on August 10. According to information from the appellant’s side, Azad filed the appeal on July 6 against a verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal 13 years earlier.

Azad has sought condonation of a 4,915-day delay in filing the appeal. He has also requested suspension of the death sentence imposed by the tribunal until the appeal is resolved. The matter came before the regular bench through the Appellate Division’s Chamber Court. Senior lawyer Ehsan A. Siddiqui and lawyer Mir Osman Bin Nasim represented Azad, while Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam appeared for the other side.