SQ Chy brought to ICT

Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, awaiting a verdict in a war crimes case, has been brought to the High Court premises.

He faces 23 charges of crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.

A prison van carrying him from the Dhaka Central Jail entered the court premises around 10am on Tuesday, said bdnews24.com Correspondent Suliman Niloy.

The BNP leader was wearing a white punjabi, pajama and had his spectacles on.

He is currently being kept at the court's detention cell.

The first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh is expected to deliver its verdict on Salauddin Quader around 10:30am.

His crimes were reported from Chittagong during the War of Independence.

Later he has been elected MP six times from the city.

The BNP Standing Committee member was indicted for 23 war crimes charges including murder, genocide, abduction, torture.

He was shifted from Kashimpur jail on Monday ahead of the verdict.

 

Security measures have been tightened around the High Court premises, with additional police and RAB contingents deployed in the area.

Police officials said they were prepared to tackle any untoward incident.

"Adequate security measures have been put in place to tackle any disorder," said Ramna zone police Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hasan Talukder.

Police have cordoned off the tribunal's main gate. Everyone entering the court premises is being thoroughly searched and questioned.

Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of police was seen deployed near the main gate.

His hometown Chittagong has been wrapped in a tight security blanket after threats of violence if Chowdhury was given death penalty.

An anonymous letter was sent to a Chittagong Magistrate threatening to blow up several government establishments if the BNP MP was sentenced to death.

Formal charges were pressed against Salauddin Quader on Nov 14, 2011 and the tribunal took them into cognisance three days later.

A former parliamentary affairs advisor to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he was shown arrested on war crimes charges on Dec 19, 2010, three days after his detention.

The BNP, however, has been silent about Chowdhury ever since he was accused of war crimes.