Salauddin’s son, wife indicted in verdict leak case

A Dhaka court on Monday framed charges against seven people, including the wife, a son and a counsel of executed BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, in a case filed in connection with the leakage of the draft verdict on the BNP leader, reports UNB news agency.

Judge KM Samsul Alam of the Dhaka Cyber Crime Tribunal passed the order and fixed 28 March for beginning the trial.

Six of the accused-Salauddin Quader’s wife Farhat Quader Chowdhury, his son Humman Quader Chowdhury, his manager Mahbubul Ahsan, lawyer AKM Fakhrul Islam and two staff of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 Nayan Ali and Faruq Hossain-pleaded not guilty when the court read out the charges to them.

Another accused Fakhrul’s associate lawyer Mehedi Hasan remained absconding.
The court also granted bail to Salauddin’s manager Mahbubul Ahsan.

DB inspector M Shajahan submitted a charge sheet with the Dhaka metropolitan magistrate court against the seven accused on 28 August 2014.
On 1 October 2013, the ICT-1 sentenced Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury to death after finding him guilty of committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the Liberation War in 1971.

However, some parts of the draft verdict were found posted in the internet several hours before pronouncing the verdict. Later, showing the copy of the draft verdict, Salauddin’s wife and son raised a complaint that the verdict was originated from the law ministry.

On 4 October, a case was filed with the Shahabagh police station under sections 57 and 63 of the information and communication technology act.
Later, DB police arrested AKM Fakhrul Islam from his chamber at Segunbagicha in the capital on 20 November that year. On 7 December 2015, the High Court granted an interim bail for one year to lawyer Fakhrul Islam in the case.

Read more:
Salauddin, Mojaheed executed