Detained BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury Sunday claimed that in 1969, he had been an active participator in the movement against then Pakistan military ruler Ayub Khan.
On the seventh day of his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal, the war crimes suspect said: “I was never a member of any student political organisation during my career although I actively participated in the anti-Ayub movement along with my friends in 1969. Indeed, I was standing hardly 10 feet away from Asad when he was killed in front of Dhaka Medical College in 1969.”
He also named several friends of his student life including Tawhid Samad, currently chairman of Independent University of Bangladesh, Salman F Rahman, Sheikh Kamal, Tofael Ahmed and Anwar Hossain Monju.
After a half-day deposition, the ICT 1 adjourned the proceedings till Monday.
The six-time MP is facing 23 offences he allegedly committed during the Liberation War in 1971 at different places in Chittagong.
He is the first defence witness in the case. The BNP leader was arrested on December 16, 2010 and was shown arrested in connection with the crimes against humanity on December 19 of the same year.
He testified: “I along with my friends of Students’ League and East Pakistan Students’ Union were active participants of the grand rally at Dhaka Race course on March 7, 1971.”
It was addresses by late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman when he was anointed as Bangabandhu following a proposal by Mr Tofael Ahmed, then VP (vice-president) of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), said the accused.
Salahuddin Quader also mentioned about the relationship between his father, former Muslim League leader Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, and Sheikh Mujib. “My father’s meeting with Bangabandhu [some time] between March 7 and March 22, 1971 was well-publicised in the media.”
“And, also naming of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a defence witness in the case against my father in 1972 – on charge of collaboration – established the fact that my father was totally committed to the cause of East Pakistan, represented in person for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a prime minister-elect of Pakistan,” according to the statement of his testimony.
Salahuddin Quader claimed that leaders of Chhatra League and East Pakistan Chhatra Union regularly met at his residence when seniors including Sirajul Alam Khan, Sahjahan Siraj and Tofael Ahmed participated.
“My own role at these meetings of the seniors was limited to offering the hospitality of my house and the convenience of my car. Many of these leaders also met my father on a number of occasions,” he added.