SQ Chy 'denied justice'

BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury has been denied justice, the party said yesterday, a day after the Supreme Court dismissed his petition seeking reconsideration of its verdict.

”Salauddin has fallen victim to persecution because of his political identity,” BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon told a press briefing at party chief Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office.

Salauddin could have got justice had the evidence he produced before the court been accepted, he claimed.

"He [Salauddin] has a commitment to the independence and sovereignty of the country. He is a clean and honest politician. He … never compromised on the question of democracy," Ripon said, adding that Salauddin was elected MP six times.

On Wednesday, the apex court dismissed petitions of Salauddin and Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed for reviewing its verdict that upheld their death penalty given by two war crimes tribunals in 2013.

Yesterday's press briefing was organised to inform the media that Khaleda would return from London tomorrow.

Ripon, also BNP's international affairs secretary, claimed Salauddin was not a criminal and he was not in the country during the time he is said to have committed war crimes.

He further claimed that on Salauddin's behalf, several documents were produced before the court and several local and foreigners were cited as witnesses. Salauddin said he was in the then West Pakistan during the war, Ripon said. 

"We as well as the entire nation would be happy if these things were considered. Then it might have proved that Salauddin was not in the country during that time and therefore it was impossible for him to commit those crimes,” he added.

Asked if the BNP believed Salauddin's claim that he was not in the country during the war, Ripon said the party believed whatever Salauddin said as he belongs to it. He also submitted evidence in favour of his statement, claimed Ripon.   

Replying to another question, he said his party is in favour of the trial of the “real war criminals”.

On July 29, the BNP alleged that Salauddin had become a victim of political vengeance after the SC upheld his death penalty handed down to him earlier.