War crimes suspect Salauddin Quader Chowdhury has claimed that he was in Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War since March 29, apparently denying the charges of crimes against humanity brought against him.
While testifying in the case at International Crimes Tribunal 1 on Wednesday, the accused said: “I left Dhaka on the afternoon of March 29, 1971 for Karachi. My cousin and friend Qayum Reza Chowdhury took me to Tejgaon Airport. I managed to get a seat on the PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) flight with the help of PIA district manager in Dhaka Mr Hamid Jung.”
After his deposition for the whole day, the three-member tribunal 1, chaired by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday.
According to prosecution, all the 23 offences, for which he is facing the trial, were committed during the war at different places in Chittagong. The charges include the killing of Nutan Chandra Singh, founder of Kundeshwari Oushodhalaya, on April 13, 1971.
Salauddin Quader is the first defence witness in the case against him.
He was arrested on December 16, 2010 by law enforcement agencies on charge of his involvement in torching a car. On December 19, he was shown arrested in connection with crimes against humanity.
The BNP leader mentioned about his studentship at Punjab University during the Liberation War. “In the month of June, July and August, I was in Lahore since my final examinations due in August. Amongst other Bangalees in Lahore at that time were my cousin Farhana Rahman.”
In his deposition continued for the eighth day, the lawmaker said: “During my stay in Karachi, I socialised with Mr Muneeb Arjumand Khan and Mr Mohammed Main Soomro who was my class mate and roommate at Sadiq Public School. Mr Soomro, who served as a caretaker prime minister of Pakistan in 2008 elections, and Mr Khan have both sent me their signed affidavits and also expressed their intentions to depose before this tribunal as defence witnesses.”
He claimed that like many of his friends including Haroon Saigal, chairman of Herald Publications, could not become defence witnesses as they were denied visas by the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad.
His deposition will continue on Tuesday.