SQ Chowdhury appeals for dropping 25 charges
Defence counsels of BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury yesterday appealed to the International Crimes Tribunal to withdraw six of the 25 charges in the case filed in connection with crimes against humanity.
Counsels Ahsanul Haq Hena and Fakhrul Islam placed the petition in which they argued that six cases were lodged against Salauddin under the Collaborators Act, 1972. While the law, enacted to try collaborators of the Liberation War in 1971, was revoked by the Fifth Amendment to the constitution, it has been brought back to life with the Fifteenth Amendment to the constitution, said Ahsanul Haq Hena.
Hena argued that this made way for “double jeopardy” meaning double trial for the same offence, which is forbidden by the constitution.
“It is my submission that the prosecution withdraws six of the 25 charges and save itself from future embarrassment,” he told the court.
The defence counsels also began submission of another petition for discharging Salauddin Quader from charges.
The three-member tribunal led by its Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq will hear the rest of the submission on Sunday.
The detained BNP lawmaker from Chittagong was produced before the tribunal yesterday. He is among two BNP and six Jamaat-e-Islami leaders facing charges of crimes against humanity at the tribunal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments