Highlights
- Sayeedi delivered an emotional statement before the 2013 death sentence verdict.
- He claimed innocence and accused the trial of political revenge.
- He took oath on the Qur’an and urged judges to ensure justice.
- Prayed for guidance—or divine justice—against those who wronged him.
Delawar Hossain Sayeedi’s Emotional Speech Before the 2013 Verdict
Before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) announced the death sentence on 28 February 2013 for crimes against humanity, former Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Delawar Hossain Sayeedi delivered a long and emotional speech. He strongly claimed that he was innocent and described the entire trial as politically motivated.
Claim of Total Innocence
Standing in the dock, Sayeedi took an oath in the name of Allah and said that the accusations brought against him were completely false:
“মাননীয় আদালত। আমি দেলাওয়ার হোসাইন সাঈদী, ৫৬ হাজার বর্গমাইলের আপামর জনগণের অতি পরিচিত। আল্লাহ সাক্ষী, তদন্ত কর্মকর্তা হেলাল উদ্দীনের রচিত দেলাওয়ার শিকদার আমি নই।”
Translation: “Honourable court. I am Delawar Hossain Sayeedi, known to the people of 56 thousand square miles. Allah is witness that I am not the ‘Delawar Shikdar’ created by Investigation Officer Helal Uddin.”
Delawar Hossain Sayeedi alleged that the then Awami League government used the investigation officer to frame him with false charges. He said,
“গণতন্ত্রের লেবাসধারী বর্তমান আওয়ামী সরকার রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসাবশত তদন্ত কর্মকর্তা হেলাল উদ্দিনকে আমার বিরুদ্ধে লেলিয়ে দিয়েছে।”
Translation: “The current Awami government, wearing the mask of democracy, has pushed Investigation Officer Helal Uddin against me out of political revenge.”
Read More: “We oppose the death penalty in all cases”- UN on Hasina verdict
Use of Qur’anic Verses in His Statement
Sayeedi referred to several verses from the Qur’an, expressing that ultimate justice belongs to Allah:
“সুরা আত ত্বীনের ৮নং আয়াতে আল্লাহ তায়ালা বলেছেন, ‘আল্লাহতায়ালা কি সকল বিচারকের তুলনায় শ্রেষ্ঠ বিচারক নন?’”
Translation: “In Surah At-Tin, verse 8, Allah says, ‘Is Allah not the best of all judges?’”
He added another verse:
“সূরা দোখানের ১৬নং আয়াতে আল্লাহ তায়ালা বলেন, একদিন আমি এদেরকে অবশ্যই কঠোরভাবে পাকড়াও করবো এবং নিশ্চয়ই প্রতিশোধ নেবই।”
Translation: “In Surah Ad-Dukhan, verse 16, Allah says: ‘One day I will surely seize them with a severe grip and take full revenge.’”
Justice in This World and the Hereafter
Delawar Hossain Sayeedi stated that the trial would have two stages—one in this world and one in the Hereafter. He stated,
“আজকের এই বিচার প্রক্রিয়া নিঃসন্দেহে দুটি পর্বে শেষ হবে। তার একটি এই জাগতিক আদালতে আর অপরটি আখেরাতের আদালতে।”
Translation: “This trial will surely end in two stages: one in this worldly court and the other in the court of the Hereafter.”
He described himself as a helpless innocent man and said the judges would face accountability in the afterlife.
Taking Oath on the Qur’an
Sayeedi touched the Holy Qur’an and swore that he had no involvement in any of the allegations. He expressed,
“আমার নামে আপনাদের এ আদালতে যতগুলো অভিযোগ আনা হয়েছে তার হাজার কোটি মাইলের মধ্যে আমার অবস্থান ছিলো না।”
Translation: “I was nowhere within a billion miles of any of the accusations brought against me in this court.”
Delawar Hossain Sayeedi urged the judges to rise above all influence and judge only out of fear of Allah.
For His Opponents
At the end of his speech, Sayeedi first prayed for guidance for those who conspired against him. But he also prayed for divine justice if guidance was not destined for them. Sayeedi said,
“আমি দোয়া করি আল্লাহ তাদের হেদায়াত করুন। আর হেদায়াত যদি তাদের নসিবে না থাকে… আল্লাহ তায়ালা যেন তাদের মৃত্যু না দেন।”
Translation: “I pray that Allah grants them guidance. But if guidance is not written for them… may Allah not give them death before they suffer the pain and consequences equal to the tears shed by me and my loved ones.”
He concluded by saying that the unjust would be cursed and Hell would be their eternal home.
Background
Delawar Hossain Sayeedi, born in 1940 in Pirojpur’s Zianagar, served as the Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami. He passed away on 14 August 2023 while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). He was buried at the Maulana Sayeedi Foundation’s Baitul Hamd Jame Mosque premises in Pirojpur.
Source: The Delta Lens
