Delwar Hossain Sayeedi

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (2 February 1940 – 14 August 2023), widely known as Allama Sayeedi, was a Bangladeshi Islamic leader, politician, scholar and public speaker who served as a Member of Parliament representing Pirojpur-1 constituency from 1996 to 2006. Before entering into politics, Sayeedi was known for delivering Islamic lectures around various Waz Mahfils across the country with large audiences. Due to his role as a mufassir, Sayeedi received appraisals by the Saudi Arabian Chief Imam Sheikh Sudais, the President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

In 2013, the newly established International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh accused him guilty on eight out of twenty counts, which included murder and religious persecution.

Various human rights groups have acknowledged that the tribunal fell short of international standards and the hearings were biased against the Sayeedi's party. The verdict, which condemned him to death, generated significant domestic and international attention, leading to both support and criticism. The verdict subsequently led to public protests and clashes between his supporters, opponents, and law enforcement agencies, resulting in a series of riots and unrest.

The Economist criticised the trial, mentioning the government's manipulative judicial system, staged public interference, restrictions on public discussion, not sufficient time allocated for the defence, the kidnapping of a defence witness and the resignation of a judge due to 2012 ICT Skype controversy.

In September 2014, the Supreme Court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. His trial was further criticized by several international organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Sayeedi died on 14 August 2023 at the age of 83 due to a cardiac arrest.