Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (2 February 1940 – 14 August 2023) was a Bangladeshi Islamist, convicted war criminal, public speaker, and politician, who served as a Member of Parliament representing the Pirojpur-1 constituency from 1996 to 2006.
In 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh found him guilty on eight out of twenty counts, which included murder, rape, and religious persecution. The verdict generated significant domestic and international attention, leading to both support and criticism. The verdict subsequently led to public protests and clashes between his supporters, opposers, and law enforcement agencies, resulting in a series of riots and unrest.
In September 2014, the Supreme Court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. His trial was criticized by several international organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Background
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi received his first primary religious education at his local village madrassa, which was built by his father. Sayeedi attended the Sarsina Alia Madrasah in 1962, followed by the Khulna Alia Madrasah.
Bangladesh Liberation War
Sayeedi was accused of, and later convicted of committing arson, rape and murder during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Critics point out that no DNA testing was conducted, and some locals denied that he was involved. His family claims that he was not in Pirojpur at the time and lived in the New Market area of Jessore. Sayedee and his family, then fled Jessore looking for safety and stayed at the house of a pir for about two weeks from around 1 April 1971. Thereafter the Sayedee family took refuge in another village, Mohiron, under Bagharpara in Jessore at one Roushan Ali’s house.
Political career
Sayeedi joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in 1979. He became a Rukon of Jamaat in 1982 and Shura member of Majlis in 1989. In 1996, he became a member of the executive council of Jamaat. He served as Naib Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from 2009 till his death.
Having gained recognition, Sayeedi was elected as a member of parliament for constituency Pirojpur-1 in the 1996 and 2001 national elections of Bangladesh.
Trial
On 22 March 2012, the Bangladesh government established the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh) to hear cases resulting from investigations of war crimes during the struggle for independence. It was an effort to "provide justice for victims of atrocities in the 1971 war of independence." In the lead up to the hearing, Sayeedi's eldest son and mother died, and he suffered a heart attack. This delayed his trial by a month in 2012.
Accusations
Sayeedi was accused of converting of Hindus to Islam, sectarian attacks on minority Hindu communities, rape, and attacks on unarmed civilians, looting and arson.
Arrest
On 24 July 2009, immigration officials at Zia International Airport prevented Sayeedi from going abroad. He challenged the Government's restriction by filing a writ petition with the High Court on 27 July. The Attorney General stated before the Chamber Judge that Sayeedi had opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. He argued that if Sayeedi was not barred from foreign travel, he might work against the government's efforts to bring justice for war crimes during that conflict.
On 21 March 2010, Syed Rejaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, filed a case accusing Sayeedi and five other Jamaat leaders of hurting religious sentiments. He was subsequently arrested.
Charge-sheets
On 12 August 2009, Manik Poshari filed a war crime case in Pirojpur against Sayeedi and four others. His accusations dated to events during the 1971 Bangladeshi war of independence.
Mahbubul Alam Howladar, a former freedom fighter, and now a member and deputy commander of the freedom fighters association called Zianagor upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, filed charges against Sayeedi with the Pirojpur senior judicial magistrate's court in Zianagar.