14-party says it respects apex court order

The ruling Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance accepted the Supreme Court verdict Wednesday commuting Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee's death penalty to imprisonment until death saying it is respectful of the court order, reports UNB.

It also branded as intellectually corrupt those brought the allegation of entente between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami over the verdict.

"The country's people and the 14-party had expected that the apex court would uphold the death sentence of identified war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee. But, we've respect for the court decision," said 14-party spokesperson and Health Minister Mohammad Nasim.

He came up with the remarks while addressing a press briefing after a meeting of the 14-party alliance held at party president Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi political office.

As journalists drew his attention that there is a hearsay the verdict is an outcome of an entente between the government and the Jamaat, Nasim, also a presidium member of the ruling AL, said, "There's no question of any entente. The court is independent and it's in no way decent to interfere in it."

BSS adds: The AL-led 14-party alliance observed that people's expectation was not fulfilled in the life sentence until death handed down by the Appellate Division.