SQ’s relatives unperturbed

The death sentence handed down to BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury by the International Crimes Tribunal does not seem to have left his close relatives any bit shaken.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 Oct 2013, 04:22 PM
Updated : 2 Oct 2013, 06:05 PM

They took the sentence nonchalantly, appearing relaxed and unperturbed, and were even seen laughing and joking among themselves.

Salauddin's sister Hasina Jabil Sinha, accompanied by Salauddin's nieces, gave her reaction to journalists standing on the court premises after the verdict.

While Hasina spoke, Salauddin's family members standing nearby were seen talking among themselves and even laughing.

Salauddin's son and one of his brothers were also talking to journalists at the time.

The New Age journalist David Bergman was passing by Hasina at that time.

Hasina walked up to Bergman to exchange greetings and the two spoke for a few minutes.

Bergman in his reports and social media postings has questioned the standards of the war crimes tribunals. Proponents of the tribunal have alleged that the New Age reporter maintains ties to those on trial for crimes against humanity during 1971.

Salauddin's family members appeared quite casual inside the tribunal before the verdict was announced.
The verdict that ordered to send Salauddin to walk the gallows seemed to have little impact on the mood of Salauddin's near and dear ones.
Salauddin comes from a family infamous for its abuse of power and ill treatment of ordinary people.
His father, Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, was an elected MP from the area when Pakistan ruled this part of the world. Fazlul was defeated in the national election of 1970, just a year before the Liberation War against Pakistan began.
Several members of this dreaded family became MPs from this area in elections after Bangladesh became independent. It is alleged that Hindu voters were forced to stay away from the polls that Salauddin and his relatives had repeatedly won.