BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on Wednesday termed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s autobiography as a ‘national heritage’ at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1).
Giving deposition as the defence witness-1 for his own, Chowdhury said, he must be hung but the tribunal should not rush and allow him enough time to explain his deposition. Chowdhury, a BNP lawmaker, is facing 23 charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.
Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Anwarul Huq heard the deposition for the third successive day and later, adjourned the proceedings till Thursday.
Chowdhury in the most part of his deposition described on different historical and political incidents of South Asian subcontinent amid prosecution’s objections.
Bangabandhu in his autobiography (from page nine to 11) claimed that he was accused of physical assault on a Hindu man, Chowdhury gave reference.
The allegation was politically motivated and fabricated, he said, inviting objection from the prosecution.
When prosecutor Advocate Sultan Mahmud Simon raised objection against it, Chowdhury said that he was a half educated man but he did not give any misinformation.
“Show me just one wrong word that I said. Is it prohibited to give any reference from that book?” he said, terming Bangabandhu’s autobiography a national heritage.
With regards to prosecution’s objection about his reference from the book, the BNP leader said, that was his perception and it could be included in his deposition.
Senior prosecutor Advocate Zead Al Malum then said, he (Chowdhury) was here to give testimony about the incidents that took place involving him from March 26 to December 16 in 1971.
“The present Chowdhury is not being prosecuted at the tribunal. The Chowdhury of 40 years back is now under trial here,” he said.
“So far what the accused person has said cannot be accepted. He must speak of the relevant incidents. Otherwise, we have to bring different kind of allegation against him,” Malum added.
Justice Jahangir Hossain at that time asked the prosecutor what he meant by saying ‘different kind of allegation’.
“If you have any application, you can place before us. We’ll consider it,” he said.
Chowdhury then said it (Malum’s comment) was a threat to the tribunal and if the prosecutors acted that way, he would bring contempt charge against them.
The tribunal then said, they were here to conduct the trial. “We’re not scared of anyone’s threat. But we want to suggest you please don’t waste your valuable time. Speak about the relevant matters,” Justice Hossain said.
-With The Independent input
