Ghulam Azam rushed to CCU of BSMMU

Former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami and war crimes convict Prof Ghulam Azam fell ill early Tuesday and was rushed to the coronary care unit (CCU) of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the morning. Sources at BSMMU hospital said the health of Ghulam Azam, 91, who has been suffering from old-age complexities for the last few months, is not well. He suddenly fell ill with having a temperature in the prison cell and was having respiratory problems since early Tuesday. In July last year, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 found Prof Azam guilty of wartime offences and sentenced him to 90 years in prison, sparing him of capital punishment due to the nonagenarian’s age and health. The tribunal gave the verdict after the charges of crimes against humanity, based on 61 incidents of wartime offences – five counts of conspiracy, three of planning, 28 of incitement, 22 of complicity and one count of murder and torture – were proved against him during investigation. During verdict, delivered by a panel of judges of ICT-1 on July 15, 2013, the judges of the panel said, even though the crimes are punishable by death, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 ordered the 90-year-old jail considering his age and health, according to private TV channels.