Dhaka: BNP on Thursday alleged that their party leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was denied justice as his review petition challenging the death sentence handed down to him was rejected by the Supreme Court.

The party thinks their leader could have got justice had the apex court taken into account the documents provided by his lawyers on his favour before it.

‘Our position on Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s verdict is the same as it was after the Appellate Division’s judgment against him on July 29. We’d expected he would get justice, but his lawyers said he was denied it,’ Ripon told a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.

He further said the government gave more priority to their leader’s political identity than his crimes. ‘He has become a victim of political vengeance.’

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld its previous verdicts on BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader and Mojaheed, rejecting their pleas for reviewing the death sentences handed down to them for their crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, keeping no further legal bar to their execution.

Ripon said they think their leader was also deprived of his basic and human rights. ‘He tried to prove himself innocent. He provided documents to justify his claim that he had not been there in the country during the Liberation War. If the court examined the documents he had produced before it and taken the testimony of volunteer witnesses in favour of him, he might get justice and avoid death penalty.’

Asked whether BNP believes Salauddin was out of the country at that time, the party spokesman said they think their leader spoke the truth as he produced evidence in favour of his claim.

Mentioning that Salauddin had been elected parliament member for six times, he claimed their leader was very vocal for the safety of the country’s independence and its sovereignty and democracy. ‘He is a clean and honest politician who has commitment to politics.’

BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, chairperson’s adviser Dr Osman Farroque, organising secretary Fazlul Haq Milon and law affairs secretary Netai Roy Chowdhury were, among others, present.