Witness Sirajul's testimony false
BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's defence yesterday attempted to prove, during cross-examination of the third witness, that the witness gave a false testimony.
Salauddin's defence claimed that witness Sirajul Islam gave "false statements" as political opponents of the lawmaker lured the witness with promises of a freedom fighter certificate into giving a false testimony.
“A vested quarter assured you [Sirajul] of giving a freedom fighter certificate, if you testify in the case [against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury] and that's why you testified,” claimed Salauddin's defence Ahsanul Haq Hena during the cross-examination at the International Crimes Tribunal-1.
“You [Sirajul] have given false statement in the false case against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury after being motivated by his [Salauddin] political opponent,” added Ahsanul Haq.
Sirajul Islam alias Shiru Bangalee, the third prosecution witness of the case, rejected the defence claims by just saying, “It is not true.”
The three-member Tribunal-1 led by its Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq finished recording the cross-examination of Sirajul Islam yesterday and adjourned the case proceedings until June 18.
The 64-year-old witness faced cross-examination of defence counsels after giving his testimony on May 24 and 27 in the case against Salauddin, who is facing 23 counts of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.
In his testimony, Sirajul Islam had told the tribunal that he had heard from a freedom fighter that Salauddin and his men killed 15-16 Hindus at Unosatturpara of Chittagong during the Liberation War.
Sirajul Islam said one Captain Karim, who was trying to recruit Sirajul as a freedom fighter, on May 21, 1971, told him how the murders were committed. He claimed that the captain was hiding in a bush near a marsh along the road to Kaptai when he witnessed the murders.
During the 90-minute cross-examination yesterday, Ahsanul Haq asked the witness, “Do you [Sirajul] and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury believe in two different ideologies?”
“It is true,” replied Sirajul Islam, adding, “I believe in Bangalee nationalism and he [Salauddin] believed in Pakistani nationalism [during Liberation War].”
Ahsanul Haq then said, “Political opponents of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury used you [Sirajul] to serve their evil desire of keeping him out of parliament.”
“It is not true,” replied Sirajul Islam.
Earlier on the day, Helal Uddin, the last and 28th prosecution witness against Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, faced cross-examination of Sayedee's counsels. The tribunal will resume the cross-examination today.
Sayedee and Salauddin were produced before the court yesterday.
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