Dhaka: BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon on Saturday night said they were informed by the family of condemned convict Salauddin Quader Chowdhury that he did not seek presidential clemency and plead guilty of war crimes.

In a statement, Ripon said, ‘His family after their final meeting with Salauddin Quader Chowdhury informed the party that he did not seek clemency to the President confessing to crimes.’

He said Salauddin’s family also informed the party that evil efforts are on to spread confusion about the matter which is not true at all.

The BNP spokesman also said the family also apprised the party that Salauddin Quader had not committed the crimes for which he was given death sentence. ‘They said he did not get justice.’

Ripon said the family also said Salauddin Quader will get justice from Allah.

Earlier at night, Salauddin Quader’s family met him in the Dhaka Central Jail ahead of his execution.

Emerging from the jail around 10:50pm, his youngest son Humman Quader Chowdhury claimed that his father did not file any mercy petition to the President.

Earlier in the day, Law Minister Anisul Huq had told UNB that BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed sought presidential clemency.

The petitions were first sent to the Home Ministry from where those sent to the Law Ministry and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and finally to President Abdul Hamid.

The President, however, turned down the petitions after review.

On Wednesday, the SC upheld its previous verdicts on BNP Salauddin Quader and Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed, rejecting their pleas for reviewing their death penalties for war crimes, clearing the way for the execution of the judgment.