Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s lawyer questions Ganajagaran Mancha’s demand for death

War crimes convict Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain has questioned Ganajagaran Mancha’s demand of upholding his client’s death sentence in the appeals court.

BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Hossain on Tuesday said the demand when a case being judged amounted to contempt of court.

The top legal officer of the state, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, however, had a different view.

Both Hossain and Alam were presidents of Supreme Court Bar Association.

Ganajagaran Mancha activists have been demonstrating since July 27 ahead of the top appeals court’s verdict on Chowdhury’s plea against his death sentence for genocide in the 1971 Liberation War.

They have been demanding maximum punishment for war crimes convicts for the last two years.

The Appellate Division will deliver the final verdict on the former MP and minister Chowdhury’s appeal on Wednesday.

Ganajagaran protesters have appealed to everyone to thwart what they described as a ‘conspiracy’ to commute the death sentence of the influential politician.

Talking to journalists on Tuesday, the attorney general hoped that the Appellate Division would uphold the International Crimes Tribunal verdict, while Chowdhury’s lawyer Hossain hoped for his acquittal.

Hossain said the defence expected his acquittal on the basis of evidence it produced before the court but now feared attempts were being made to put ‘pressure’ on the judicial system.

“Comments are being made to create pressure on the court. The Ganajagaran Mancha, for example, has taken to the streets to demand death penalty,” he said.

“Such agitation amounts to contempt of court since the case is on trial by the country’s apex court.”

He hoped the Supreme Court would take stern action in this matter.

Asked if the Ganajagaran’s demand amounted to contempt of court, the attorney general Alam said, “Obviously not.”

He recalled a movement led by Jahanara Imam that advocated punishment to the perpetrators of the 1971 atrocities.

“Those who suffered losses during the Liberation War, who are pro-liberation, and people in general will want the tribunal’s verdict upheld.”

Referring to instances in other countries, he said, “Being vocal for justice is not unique to Bangladesh. It happens throughout the world.”
 
Irrespective of the events outside, the court had heard the case and would deliver the verdict without any pressure, Mahbubey Alam said.
 
He referred to the verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee that had not met the people’s demand.
 
The attorney general, however, blamed Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s family for trying to malign the trial process.
 
He said a section was trying to exert ‘pressure’ on the court by tarnishing the image of the Supreme Court judges before the verdict.
 
He said a daily newspaper had cast aspersions on the judges. “This is shocking.”
 
It had recently reported that a judge had had a meeting with Chowdhury’s relatives. 
 
The attorney general doubted the report’s credibility, dismissing it as baseless.
 
Khandker Mahbub Hossain, though, harped on alleged pressure tactics, but hoped to get ‘justice’ in the apex court.
 
“We think it is not possible to put pressure on the Appellate Division.”
 
“The court will acquit Chowdhury in the interest of justice by ignoring the demands of the Ganajagaran Mancha.”