The Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the death sentence of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury for war crimes
organisers of the 1971 Liberation War. “It has set an example of rule of law and justice,” Ekattorer Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee’s acting president Shahriar Kabir said in an immediate reaction after the verdict on Wednesday. “We expected the verdict on the appeal would uphold the death sentence. Chowdhury is the biggest perpetrator of atrocities during 1971.” Chowdhury, who opposed the liberation of Bangladesh, later went on to become a minister. His arrogance has often made news. “He surpassed all limits during 1971. He was also arrogant afterwards,” continued Kabir, leader of the platform, which has long been pressing for the war crimes trial. He added that by trying these crimes committed during the Liberation War 44 years ago, Bangladesh has set an example. “Not only in the country, this is an amazing example even for the world.” Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University’s Bengali department Anisuzzaman, who testified against Chowdhury in the ICT, told bdnews24.com: “We have got justice.” Liberation War researcher and poet Rashid Haider said that Wednesday’s verdict fulfilled the expectation of the people. Bangladesh Worker’s Party chief and Civil Aviation Minister, Rashed Khan Menon, reacted, “This arrogant war criminal had climbed up the ladder of politics to come into power a number of time. Today saw the trial of such a person.” Communist Party Bangladesh (CPB) chief Mujahidul Islam Selim said, “It was the correct decision. The people’s desire for justice was served. Now all we want is to see it executed fast.” He also called for ban of Jamaat-e-Islami for its stance against the Liberation War in 1971.
