Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam, who has been charged with crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War, was brought to the International Crimes Tribunal 1 (ICT 1) at about 10:20am.
The three-member judge panel of ICT has also arrived at the court premises.
The panel led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir is scheduled to start reading out the verdict in the cases against Ghulam Azam, at about 10:40am.
Freedom fighters, eminent personalities and leaders of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee were seen at the ICT 1 premises, awaiting the verdict.
Lawyers, journalists and many others gathered at the tribunal premises since morning.
Police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel were seen alert outside the tribunal premises.
Security in and around the tribunal has been beefed up ahead of the verdict.
The charges against the 91-year-old former Jamaat Ameer include involvement in the murder and torture of unarmed people, and conspiracy, planning, incitement and complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The charges were made based on 61 incidents. Ghulam Azam was charged with planning to commit crimes on three occasions, which resulted in different crimes against humanity committed across the country.
The five charges cover crimes against humanity; attempt, abetment or conspiracy to commit such crimes; other crimes under international law; complicity in or failure to prevent commissioning of any such crimes; and liability for crimes as an accomplice and commander, according to the ICT Act, 1973.
On April 16, the tribunal concluded proceedings in the case keeping it as CAV (curia advisarivult), meaning the verdict could be delivered at any given time.
Eighteen witnesses submitted depositions against GhulamAzam while only one – the son of the accused testified for the accused.
Earlier, the two tribunals handed down verdicts against three Jamaat leaders and another former Jamaat member. Several other cases against war crimes suspects are currently underway.
