War crimes accused BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on Sunday claimed himself an active supporter of the cause of Bangladesh Independence.
In support of his claim, Salauddin Quader, a defence witness (DW), told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that he had participated in the 1971 March 7 rally as active supporter where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech. “If the speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mijibur Rahman is accepted as Unilateral Declaration of Independence, then with all humility, as an active participant and supporter at that rally, I can legitimately claim to be an active supporter for the cause of Bangladesh,” he said.
The DW’s statement raised objection by the prosecution as such documents in which the defence intends to rely upon were not furnished at the time of the commencement of trial. The tribunal recorded the DW’s statement with objection by the prosecution.
During his deposition for the seventh day, Salauddin Quader also claimed that as a student he had actively participated in the anti-Ayub movement in 1969 without joining any student political organisations. “I was standing hardly 10 feet away from Asad when he was killed in front of the Dhaka Medical College during the anti-Ayub movement.”
After exhausting two hours of his deposition relating to his father’s contribution to politics and social service as well as country’s history, the tribunal interrupted Salauddin Quader and asked, “What will you gain out of it as those bear no relation to the charges you’re facing? Besides, the tribunal had already made observations on the historic undisputed facts.”
In reply, the DW said, “As I’m a public figure. I’ve to speak a few words more.”
Ruling out the plea, the tribunal said, “You’ll have to complete the deposition by Monday. The way you’re continuing, it won’t finish in two months.”
-With The Independent input
