Proceedings in the case against war crimes suspect Salauddin Quader Chowdhury did not take place on Wednesday at the International Crimes Tribunal 1 due to the verdict delivery against Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed at the other tribunal.
Wednesday was fixed for cross-examination of the third defence witness, Qaiyum Reza Choudhury, a seasoned businessman. But due to the verdict announcement against Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, the first tribunal did not deal with any case in the morning session.
Due to space constraints, the tribunal 2 sits at the tribunal 1 room on every verdict day.
In the second session, defence counsel Salma Hai pleaded for adjournment till today. The tribunal then reminded them about the hartal declared for the day.
The counsel told the tribunal that they were coming on every hartal day. So they sure would place their witness.
Qaiyum, 63, in his deposition mainly corroborated the testimony submitted by Nizam Ahmed, the second defence witness.
He is the brother of former chief justice late Mainur Reza Choudhury, according to the accused. He was a student of Notre Dame College and Dhaka University. He is also a trustee of Asia-Pacific University.
The witness claimed he, Salahuddin Quader, Nizam Ahmed and Salman F Rahman had participated in the six-point and 11-point movements and also staged protest when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was accused in the historic Agartala Conspiracy Case.
In his deposition and cross-examination, Salahuddin Quader denied all the charges brought against him, terming them politically motivated. He claimed that he had been in Pakistan from March 29, 1971 to April 20, 1974.
He is accused with 23 charges of crimes against humanity which he allegedly committed in Raozan of Chittagong.
The two other witnesses to come next are Justice Shamim Hasnain and Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group, a leading conglomer.