Investigators claim proof against SQ Chy

The war crimes tribunal claims to have found evidence that SQ Chy residence in Chittagong was used for torturing civilians and freedom fighters.

bdnews24.com
Published : 12 April 2011, 08:42 AM
Updated : 12 April 2011, 08:42 AM
Mintu Chowdhury
Chittagong, Apr 12 (bdnews24.com) — War crimes investigators say they have proof of a senior BNP leader's involvement in war crimes.
One investigator said Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury's garage was used for torturing people during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
A war crimes suspect, SQ Chowdhury's father, Fazlul Quader Chowdhury had a house on Goods Hill in Chittagong. One of the war crimes tribunal investigators said on Tuesday the Chowdhury residence also housed a local camp of the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators.
Assistant police superintendent (ASP) Nurul Islam and inspector Mohammad Obaidullah entered the residence around 4:30pm. A witness, Mohammad Salimullah, accompanied them.
There have been two old jeeps and a private car left outside the garage which is currently abandoned.
A five-strong team, comprising a prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, reached Chittagong on Friday to investigate allegations against the BNP policy maker, who is currently behind bars.
The investigators visited Chittagong and Rauzan, village home of SQ Chowdhury, and took testimonies of witnesses.
ASP Islam told reporters after visiting the residence: "We've found evidence that the garage was used as a torture camp. Freedom fighters and general people were tortured on the first floor. Some of them were killed while some were released."
Islam, who is also the chief investigator in the case against the BNP leader, said they were also looking into names that are reportedly involved in the incident.
Strict security measures were taken during the visit that ended at 5:30pm.
The team took the deposition of Salimullah, a C&F agent, and made out a detailed sketch of the place.
The wife of SQ Chowdhury's younger brother Saifuddin Quader Chowdhury was present at the house during the visit, but did not appear before the investigation team.
STATEMENT OF SALIMULLAH
The 68-year-old victim gave statements to the investigation team on Monday and also spoke to reporters when he accompanied the team on Tuesday.
He had been taken to this camp up by one 'Khoka' commander of an organisation that collaborated with the Pakistan Army during the Liberation War, Al Shams, from Rahamatganj area of the port city around 8pm on Apr 2, 1971. Khoka was accompanied by 'Mahbub' and several others.
Salimullah said he had been picked up as he protested Al Shams members taking away two staff members from his father's printing press at Abhaymitra Ghat the same night.
They travelled by a jeep.
He was tied up and hung upside-down by his legs from the ceiling and severely beaten. He fell unconscious at one point, he added.
Salimullah named Saifuddin, Syed Wahidul Alam (former BNP whip) who he saw in the room.
There was another victim in the room that night. He could hear shrieks of pain and wailing from adjacent rooms too, he said.
He was released the following day after his uncle Abul Kashem, a lawyer, managed to mediate with the collaborators.
Salimullah claimed that he was not involved with any political party during that time and had supported the war.
Asked if he had seen SQ Chowdhury at the camp, he answered in the negative. "But it's their ancestral home. I saw his brother Saifuddin."
The victim said he heard from people that all of Fazlul Quader's sons had been involved in torture during the Liberation War.
"I'm not afraid of being killed anymore. But those injustices must be brought to trial."
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