Prosecutors are expecting the verdict on BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury (SQC) next month for his participation in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The proceedings ended on August 14 and hopefully it will not take more than a month to get the judgment after the tribunal’s announcement of a court adjourned verdict (CAV), prosecutor advocate Sultan Mahmud Simon said on Friday. The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) put the verdict on Salauddin Quader pending after the conclusion of arguments from both sides on August 14, meaning the tribunal can deliver the verdict any time. With the sole exception of the verdict on Prof. Ghulam Azam, former ameer of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the tribunal had delivered its verdicts against the other suspects almost within one month, Simon said.
“The case of Ghulam Azam was something different because we had to prove his superior command responsibility. But Salauddin was either physically present at places of incidents or directly took part in the crimes. We have proved his joint criminal responsibilities before the tribunal,” he said.
“We have elaborately explained the charges against Salauddin in our arguments. The allegations are clear against him and there is no vagueness. So, we are expecting the verdict next month,” he said.
Moreover, some incidents like the killing of Nuton Chandra Singh also suggested the involvement of Salauddin.
“It is known to all that Salauddin was involved in the killing of Nuton Chandra Singh, founder of Kundeshwari Oushodhalaya, at Rauzan, Chittagong,” he said. “Hence, we think the tribunal will not take much time to pass the judgment.”
Apart from Simon, advocate Zead Al Malum and barrister Tureen Afroz also took part in the arguments for the prosecution, while attorney AHM Ahsanul Huq Hena and barrister AKM Fakhrul Islam appeared for Salauddin.
Though the defence counsel claimed they had successfully negated all allegations and expressed their optimism that the BNP leader would be acquitted of all charges, prosecutors were of the view that they had successfully proved all allegations during the proceedings. The prosecution placed its arguments for four days from July 28 to 31, while the defence placed its arguments for seven working days from August 1.
The prosecution submitted formal charges against Salauddin on November 14, 2011 and the tribunal took cognisance of the allegations three days later. The tribunal framed 23 charges against him on April 4 last year.
A total of 41 prosecution witnesses gave deposition against Salauddin.
In addition, the tribunal also accepted the statements of four other prosecution witnesses given to the investigation officer as depositions against the accused under Section 19(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
Four defence witnesses, including Salauddin himself, testified for the defence.
-With The Independent input
