SQ Chy verdict ‘any day’

The first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh has finished hearing the case involving BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

Headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, the International Crimes Tribunal-1, however, kept its verdict pending.

The BNP MP was indicted on Apr 4 last year on 23 counts of war crimes including rape, murder, abduction and torture on Hindus during 1971 Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

Barrister Farrukh Islam and Ahsanul Huq Hena completed their arguments in their client’s favour within an hour of the time given by the court on Wednesday.

Persecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon, Tureen Afroz and Ziad Al Malum replied to them.

The court announced the closure of hearing after that, leaving the verdict in the case to be pronounced any day now.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Hena pointed to several ‘contradictions’ in the witness deposition, while Farrukh Islam presented several ‘information’ and ‘documents’ before the court, claiming Salauddin was in Pakistan in 1971.

At that point, Tureen raised certain points citing several legal observations and some foreign cases.

Hena objected, saying, “This International Crimes Tribunal is mainly a local court. So, you can’t use any foreign or international act or definition in its trial process.”

He alleged the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act was being used only to harass the government’s political opponents.

“Salauddin Quader is facing trial only because of his family’s political history and politics,” he said.

Prosecutor Tureen claimed her team had successfully proved that the BNP Standing Committee member was directly involved in committing the “worst crimes”

The prosecution submitted formal charges against Salauddin Quader on Nov 14, 2011 and the tribunal took them into cognizance three days later.

A former prime ministerial adviser on parliamentary affairs when BNP chief Khaleda Zia was in office, the Chittagong MP had been formally arrested on war crimes charges on Dec 20, 2010, five days after his detention.