BNP silent on Sayedee verdict

Senior BNP leaders were reluctant to talk about Thursday’s conviction by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee for "crimes against humanity" during the 1971 Liberation War.

Jamaat is the key component of the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance.

In its first judgment, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 condemned the Islamist party’s central executive member Sayedee to death for his crimes 42 years ago.

BNP Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told bdnews24.com: “We wouldn’t comment on the issue.”

Several other stalwarts also declined comment.

অবাধ ‘লুটপাটে’ বিদ্যুতের দাম বেড়েছে: বিএনপি

The main opposition party has been saying from the beginning that it is always in favour of the war crimes trial but that must be held in a ‘free, fair and impartial manner in conformity with the international standards’.

Most of the war crimes accused are Jamaat stalwarts while two of them are BNP leaders -- Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and former minister Abdul Alim.

The Jamaat called a countrywide daylong shutdown for Thursday to press home its demands for dissolution of the tribunal and release of its top leaders.

Chairman of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote Abdul Latif Nezami told bdnews24.com: “The verdict is nothing but a political revenge. We think that the tribunal passed the verdict emotionally in the face of pressure.”

Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said: “We think that the Shahbagh movement might have influenced the tribunal’s verdict. So, the verdict will give rise to controversy and questions in the public mind.”

Additional policemen were deployed in front of the BNP central office in the city’s Naya Paltan from the morning.

Rizvi and Assistant Office Secretary Asadul Karim Shahin entered office around 11:45am.