Ganajagaran Mancha starts demonstration at Shahbagh for Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's hanging

Ganajagaran Mancha activists have braved rain to start demonstration demanding that the top appeals court confirm the death sentence of war criminal and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 July 2015, 03:05 PM
Updated : 24 July 2015, 03:05 PM

Around 60, led by Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar, gathered in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh at 4pm on Friday.

They also took out a march and shouted slogans for the highest punishment for war criminals, for which the movement at Shahbagh started two years ago and caught global attention.

The Appellate Division will deliver the final verdict on Chowdhury’s appeal on Jul 29.

The war crimes tribunal sentenced him to death on Oct 1, 2013 for genocide and murder of individuals during the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

The BNP Standing Committee member challenged the verdict in court on Oct 29 the same year.

Sarkar said the demonstration under the banner of ‘Mass sit-in demanding notorious Razakar SaQua’s highest punishment – hanging’ would continue no matter what.

He asked everyone to remain alert since the death sentence of war criminal Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was reduced to life sentence in appeal verdict.

Sayedee was a member of Parliament.

Chowdhury, arrested on Dec 16, 2010, was the first sitting MP to be convicted of war crimes.

He was found guilty of murdering Kundeshwari Oushadhalaya owner Nutan Chandra Singha, genocide of Hindus at Sultanpur and Unsattar Parha, and abduction and murder of a Hathazari Awami League leader and his son Sheikh Alamgir.

His wife Farhat Quader Chowdhury and Hummam Quader Chowdhury are among seven accused of leaking the ICT verdict before it was handed down.

On Thursday, Sarkar spoke to bdnews24.com about his fear that the death penalty awarded to the influential former MP night be reduced or overturned.

“A foreign media outlet has recently reported that his (Chowdhury) family has already met the chief justice.

“He is a top leader of a major political party. His national and international lobbying is quite strong.

“There is a great deal of fear whether these factors can influence the judgment,” he said.