War Crimes Trial
Arguments on SQ Chy's four petitions end
The defence counsels yesterday finished their arguments on four petitions for BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury before the International Crimes Tribunal.
After the counsels finished their lengthy arguments, which continued for the last three days, the prosecution yesterday began its reply on the petitions.
The detained BNP leader filed the petitions seeking bail in a case filed on crimes against humanity charges, transferring him from Gazipur's Kashimpur Jail-2 to any other prison, and conducting the proceedings against him following international standards.
The fourth petition sought discharge of the Chittagong lawmaker from the charges of crimes against humanity he is facing at the tribunal.
In the discharge petition, the defence counsels appealed for withdrawing six out of a total of 25 crimes against humanity charges against Salauddin Quader.
Defence counsel Ahsanul Haq Hena said the BNP leader was already facing those charges in other cases filed under the Collaborators Act of 1972, which could lead to “double jeopardy”, meaning nobody could be tried twice for the same offence according to the constitution.
Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a six-time lawmaker, was produced before the court for yesterday's proceedings.
He was also given an opportunity to address the court briefly after his counsels finished their arguments.
The Chittagong lawmaker used the opportunity to express his “unqualified apology” to the court for "unknowingly breaking" the court's conducts in the past.
He then proceeded to answer some of the questions the judges asked when his counsel Fakhrul Islam was submitting the discharge petition.
Later, prosecutor Zead Al Malum said he would answer each of the 47 points the defence counsels had mentioned in their arguments.
The prosecutor is scheduled to continue his reply today.
Salauddin Quader is among two BNP and six Jamaat-e-Islami leaders facing charges of crimes against humanity at the tribunal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments