Trashing the allegation of negotiating with Jamaat-e-Islami, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government never compromised on the trial of war criminals.
He made the remarks while expressing his official reaction over the Appellate Division verdict that commuted the death penalty of war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee.
The press conference was held in the capital's Gulshan area on Wednesday afternoon, immediately after the five-member Appellate Division bench pronounced the verdict.
Replying to a query whether the government influenced the appeal proceeding after a “secret understanding” with the Jammat, Anisul Huq said: “We [the government and the Jamaat] never negotiated. Such type of allegation is totally baseless.”
While expressing his reaction over the verdict, he said: “I have accepted the verdict. However, I think it is disappointing.”
Asked about the issue of review petition, the minister said: “I cannot say that there is no chance for reviewing the verdict. But, filing any review petition is not possible right now.”
Earlier in the day, the five-member Appellate Division of the Supreme Court awarded Sayedee imprisonment until death in response to an appeal petition filed by the Jamaat leader, challenging the verdict of the tribunal.
The verdict has awarded the punishment on majority opinion.