State wants SC to uphold SQ Chy's death penalty

The top state counsel yesterday prayed before the Supreme Court to uphold the death penalty of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury for committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the Liberation War.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam made the plea on the 10th day of hearing on the Salauddin's appeal against his verdict given by International Crimes Tribunal-1 on October 1, 2013. The BNP leader was also given 20 years of jail in three charges while five years in two other charges.

The four-member bench of Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha fixed Sunday for further hearing of the appeal. The defence counsel of Salauddin is expected to place their arguments on the day.

Mahbubey Alam yesterday told the apex court that Salauddin along with the Pakistan army men had launched massacres in different areas of Raozan under Chittagong in 1971.

 “Several eyewitnesses have testified about the atrocities he had committed [in 1971] and therefore, he (Salauddin) deserves the death penalty,” said Mahbubey Alam, as he completed his submission yesterday.

He, however, said if necessary, he may place further submission after defence arguments.

The four charges for which Salaudding was given the capital punishment are: involvement in two acts of genocide; killing of Nutan Chandra Singha; and murder of Awami League leader Mozaffar Ahmed and his son in Raozan.