International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam on Monday said that death-row convicts who failed to file appeals within the legally stipulated 30-day period would no longer have the opportunity to challenge their convictions.
Speaking at a press conference on enforced disappearances and human rights in the capital, he said the law allows convicted persons sentenced to death by the tribunal 30 days to file an appeal.
“Those who do not file an appeal within the stipulated time will not have any further opportunity to do so,” the chief prosecutor said.
He specifically said that Sheikh Hasina and other death-row convicts who had not filed appeals within 30 days of the delivery of their verdicts were no longer eligible to appeal under the law.
According to him, there is no legal provision for accepting an appeal after the expiry of the prescribed time limit.
At the press conference, Aminul Islam also said that the proposed Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act would not create any conflict with the International Crimes Tribunal Act.
He said every allegation of enforced disappearance and every investigation report would be thoroughly examined and verified before necessary legal decisions were taken in accordance with the law.