BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury quit politics due to "government pressure", a BNP senior leader claimed today.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said this while talking to reporters at the grave of the party founder late president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.

Shamsher had been suffering from different ailments and needed to go abroad for treatment but the government didn't allow him to renew his passport, Nazrul said adding, "He (Shamsher) could not tolerate such pressure and hence retired from politics."  

Nazrul along with the members of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum went to Zia's grave to offer prayer and place a wreath to mark the forum's anniversary at 11:30 am.