Bangladesh Nationalist Party has expressed deep shock over the death of Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former lawmaker Delawar Hossain Sayedee, who was sentenced to jail unto death for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

In separate messages of condolence sent to the media on early Tuesday, the party also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of Sayeedi and conveyed profound sympathy to his bereaved family members, relatives, fans, and well-wishers.

This is for the first time BNP mourned the death of any convicted war criminal of Jamaat as the party remained silent earlier when the top Jamaat leaders were hanged on charges of crimes against humanity.

Sayedee, 86, passed away at about 8:40pm on Monday while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

In his condolence message, Fakhrul said that he was deeply saddened at the death of Sayedee as a prisoner.

Describing the Jamaat leader as an internationally renowned Islamic scholar, he said that Sayedee inspired the people of Bangladesh and other countries of the world toward the enlightened path of Islam.

Fakhrul said that the Jamaat leader was compassionate towards pious people and he devoted himself to the practice and propagation of pure Islamic knowledge among people.

He was a patient and eloquent speaker in the Parliament, the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said that Sayedee had been in jail for 13 years with serious illness and he was not provided with proper treatment.

‘His death will remain as an unprecedented example of the cruelty of the autocratic ruler.’