Staff Reporter :
Police reportedly picked up Hummam Quader Chowdhury, youngest son of executed war criminal and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, from in front of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court on Thursday.
Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was hanged on November 22, 2015 being convicted by International Crimes Tribunal for his crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.
Salahuddin’s wife Farhat Quader Chowdhury and son Hummam Chowdhury went to the court to appear as witnesses in a case filed against them under the Information Communication Technology [ICT] Act, their family lawyer Chowdhury Mohammad Galib Ragib said.
“But a group of unidentified persons introducing themselves as Detective Branch [DB] of Police picked Hummam while he just stepped down from his car at the court building. They asked Farhat Chowdhury not to interfere, saying ‘let us do our job’. Later, Farhat alone appeared before the court as witness.
Thursday was the second day of arguments in the case, which was filed following leakage of the judgment copy relating to Salahuddin’s verdict from the administrative section of ICT with the help of some officials.
Salahuddin was awarded death sentence by the ICT on October 1, 2013. But the verdict was available in the internet before it was pronounced by the court. Against this backdrop, the prosecution section of ICT filed a case against seven persons, including wife and son of Salahuddin.
Aminul Gani Titu, Chief Defence lawyer, said that he had heard of the matter. “I will complain it to the judge,” he said.
Police, however, did not make any comment over the matter. But one of Salahuddin’s family friends named Sayem said he was also in the car when a group of six persons intercepted it.
“Six persons intercepted the car. They introduced themselves as members of DB. So far as I know, Hummam has been kept at DB office in the city’s Mintoo Road,” Sayem further said.
Hummam’s personal secretary Minhaj Uddin Chowdhury Shibli also said that he was picked up by the law enforcers while going to appear before a Dhaka court.
At that time, the law enforcers said that there were ‘more cases’ against him. They however, did not show any identity cards or warrant in this regard, he said.
The court fixed August 14 for the final verdict of the case.
