Claiming that its standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was denied justice, BNP on Wednesday said the party was disappointed, surprised and shocked as the Supreme Court upheld his death penalty.
“We’ve got upset, surprised and saddened as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, awarded by the International Crimes Tribunal,” said BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon.
He came up with the party’s official reaction to the Supreme Court verdict at a crowded press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in the city. Ripon, however, said their party will not launch any programme against the verdict as it is still under trial.He also said their party expects that Salauddin Quader will get justice in the review of the verdict.
The BNP spokesman also claimed that Salauddin Quader was very vocal about the country’s independence and sovereignty. “He is a popular political leader who was elected MP six times by the people of his home constituency. In his political career, he did politics for the welfare of the country and its politics.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of condemned war crime convict Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
On October 1, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 found the BNP leader guilty of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and condemned him to death.
Ripon said from the very beginning their party’s position has been very clearer over the trial of those had committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation war. “We’re always in favour of the trial.”
“But we’ve long been saying this trial process must be transparent and free from political influence with international standard so that no one in any way subject to political vengeance and the accused get justice,” he added.
The BNP leader said they were respectful of the rule of law and the judiciary though there were continuous efforts to politically influence the trial process. Stating that Salahuddin Quader always turned down the allegation of committing crimes against humanity during 1971, Ripon said the BNP leader presented strong documents and witnesses before the court in favour of his stance that he had been outside the country during the Liberation War. “Some noted citizens of the country also testified in favour of his claim before the court. But, the court didn’t take cognizance of it.”
He further said, “So, like his lawyers our party also thinks he didn’ t get justice. He was given the death penalty unfairly. We’re aggrieved over the verdict and really disheartened.”
Ripon said, their party thinks Salauddin has become a victim to political vengeance. “Our party also thinks there has been various legal flaws and lack of transparency in the trial of the allegations brought against him.”
Stating that in many countries of the world it was found that many verdicts were flawed after execution, the BNP spokesman urged the court to reconsider the judgment during the review so that this verdict is not considered in the future as a ‘judicial killing’ of Bangladesh.
“BNP is always respectful of the prudence and wisdom of the judiciary, and expects justice from it rising above political pressure,” added. Asked whether they are going to announce any programme against the verdict, Ripon said, “Hope, he’ll get justice during the review of the verdict. So, there’s no question of announcing any programme right now.” Replying to another question as to why their party is depending Salauddin Quader while two freedom fighters told the court that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman during the Liberation War had formed a squad to kill him and his father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, the BNP spokesman doubted about the authenticity of the information, saying the nation did not hear any such information earlier.
