DHAKA: The Supreme Court (SC) upheld death sentence for BNP leader Salauddin Qauder Chowdhury for 1971 crimes against humanity, rejecting his review petition. 

The 4-member full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha pronounced its final verdict on Wednesday.

The other members include Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain.

Earlier in the day, Salauddin Qauder’s chief lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain moved for his client while attorney general Mahbubey Alam for the state.

Earlier on Tuesday, the apex court deferred the hearing to November 18 (Wednesday) as the defense lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain sought adjournment of hearing.

On July 17 of 2013, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 handed down death sentence to Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mujahid. Later, he appealed against the verdict on August 11 of that year.

On the other hand, on October 1 of 2013, ICT-1 awarded death sentence to Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. The BNP leader also appealed against the ICT verdict on October 29 of that year.

The Appellate Division upheld the ICT verdicts against Mujahid on June 16 and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on July 29 for their crimes against humanity during the country’s war of independence in 1971.

The full verdict was published on September 30. Later on October 1, Dhaka Central Jail authorities read out the verdicts to both the convicts.

On October 14, both Salahuddin Quader and Mujahid submitted review petitions of those verdicts separately.

BDST: 1219 HRS, NOV 18, 2015
RS/SMS