BNP reacts to Salauddin Quader's review verdict after a day, says he is a 'victim of political vengeance'

The BNP has given its reaction to the final confirmation of its maverick leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's death sentence for war-time atrocities.

The party's spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said in a media conference on Thursday Chowdhury was a 'victim of political vengeance'.

Ripon explained the delay in coming up with an official reaction after the Supreme Court rejected Chowdhury's appeal to review his death sentence on Wednesday.
He said he did not get any message from the high command.

The BNP's closest ally Jamaat-e-Islami called shutdown for Thursday in protest against the Supreme Court verdict on a similar petition by its Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.

But no BNP leader was willing to comment on the verdict against Chowdhury, a member of its Standing Committee and a former advisor to party chief Khaleda Zia when she was the prime minister.

The BNP called the media conference to say their chief Khaleda would return from London after treatment on Saturday.

Asked about the verdict against Chowdhury, Ripon said, "As a party colleague, I think Mr Salauddin Quader Chowdhury is a victim of political vengeance."

The BNP has been alleging that the war crimes trial was not transparent. Ripon said there has been no change in the party position on the issue.

He alleged Chowdhury was not provided with all options to prove himself innocent.

"He could have got justice if the court checked on his claims and took them into cognisance.

"We think he had spoken the truth. He had also submitted evidence," spokesperson Ripon said.

Chowdhury showed a Panjab University certificate to claim he was not in Bangladesh at the times the crimes had been perpetrated and for which he had been ordered to walk the gallows.

The Supreme Court did not agree with his reasoning. It is alleged that it was a forged document.