BNP leader Salauddin Quader expects ‘justice’ in appeal verdict for Bangladesh war crimes

BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, now in Kashimpur Jail, hopes he will get justice in the verdict on the appeal against his death sentence on Wednesday.

He also claimed himself a ‘victim of political vengeance’, a prison official told bdnews24.com on Tuesday.

 

The Appellate Division will deliver the judgment on the appeal by the former minister, sentenced to death for four counts of war crime charges.

 

Prison officials said security was beefed up in the jail in Gazipur for the verdict.

 

The BNP policymaker has been in the Kashimpur Jail since before the International Crimes Tribunal handed down the death sentence.

 

After his arrest on Dec 16, 2010, Chowdhury was kept at Kashimpur’s Dhaka Central Jail-2. He was shifted to the Jail no. 1 on Oct 23, 2012.

 

Asked about his condition before the day of his appeal verdict, Jailer Md Faridur Rahman Reza told bdnews24.com: “He said ‘I’ll get justice’. He claimed himself innocent and said he is a victim of political vendetta.”

 

Ganajagaran Mancha, which has been demanding maximum penalty for all war criminals, are saying the victims of Chowdhury’s atrocities will get justice only if the death sentence of the war time terror of Chittagong is upheld.

 

A prison official, requesting anonymity, said Chowdhury was not that arrogant like he had been in the Jail no. 2.  

 

“He seems contemplative,” he said.

 

Jailer Rahman said the prison officials are on alert before the verdict. “Surveillance in the jail area has been strengthened,” he added.