Delwar Hossain Sayeedi

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (2 February 1940 – 14 August 2023) was a Bangladeshi Islamic leader, politician and scholar who served as a Member of Parliament representing the Pirojpur-1 constituency from 1996 to 2006. Before entering politics, Sayeedi was known for delivering Islamic lectures at various Waz Mahfils across the country to large audiences. Due to his role as a mufassir, Sayeedi received praise from 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 found him guilty of eight out of twenty charges, including murder and religious persecution. Various human rights groups stated that the tribunal fell short of international standards, and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami stated that the hearings were biased against Sayeedi's party. The verdict, which sentenced him to death, generated significant domestic and international attention, leading to both support and criticism. The verdict subsequently led to public protests, riots, and clashes between his supporters, opponents, and law enforcement agencies. In September 2014, the Supreme Court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. Sayeedi died on 14 August 2023 at the age of 83 following cardiac arrest.