Goods Hill used as torture cell, victim tells tribunal
Dhaka, May 21 (UNB) - A prosecution witness on Monday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that he was persecuted during the Liberation War in 1971 by Al Shams activists led by now detained accused BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
While giving his testimony before the tribunal, prosecution witness No. 2 M Salim Ullah said he was severely tortured at Goods Hill, the parental house of SQ Chowdhury, as he went there to rescue his two press staff belonging to the minority Hindu community.
According to PW Salim Ullah, a printing press owner in Chittagong city, Goods Hill had been turned into a torture cell during the Liberation War where the activists of Al Shams operated their activities.
Salim Ullah, now 68, said everyday morning during the Liberation War, the activists of Al Shams used to come out of Goods Hill in a red jeep provided by Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, the father of the accused, and move around the city and its suburbs, including Satkania, Boalkhali, Patia, Raojan and Rangunia, to collect information through their engaged sources about the freedom-loving people.
After collecting information from their sources, they used to plunder the houses, mostly of the Hindu community, and torch those, said the PW, adding that they would also capture the pretty women from the burnt-down houses for their carnal desire. Besides, they would hand over the captured women to the Pakistan occupation army who finally would eliminate them after having sex with them under duress, the PW added.
Salim Ullah said he used to hear gunshots before daybreak and groaning of people as he used to be dumped in the garage of Goods Hill after persecution overnight.
He said the persecutors used to torture freedom-loving people at Goods Hill hanging them upside down and hitting them with rifle butts.
“At that moment I would think that I might also be gunned down. I used to feel about my only four-month-old daughter, not about any other members of my family. And I would offer prayers to Almighty Allah seeking His blessings to protect my daughter in my absence,” recalled Salim Ullah who burst into tears as he could not check his emotion.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice M Nizamul Huq, recorded the testimony of PW Salim Ullah with his emotion in words.
“I gave my evidence before the tribunal as a persecuted man and I seek justice since I’ve been waiting for long four decades.”
Before concluding his deposition, PW Salim Ullah identified accused SQ Chowdhury in the dock.
After closing his testimony, the defence counsel for the accused cross-examined him which remained inconclusive.
The trial resumes on Tuesday.
While giving his testimony before the tribunal, prosecution witness No. 2 M Salim Ullah said he was severely tortured at Goods Hill, the parental house of SQ Chowdhury, as he went there to rescue his two press staff belonging to the minority Hindu community.
According to PW Salim Ullah, a printing press owner in Chittagong city, Goods Hill had been turned into a torture cell during the Liberation War where the activists of Al Shams operated their activities.
Salim Ullah, now 68, said everyday morning during the Liberation War, the activists of Al Shams used to come out of Goods Hill in a red jeep provided by Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, the father of the accused, and move around the city and its suburbs, including Satkania, Boalkhali, Patia, Raojan and Rangunia, to collect information through their engaged sources about the freedom-loving people.
After collecting information from their sources, they used to plunder the houses, mostly of the Hindu community, and torch those, said the PW, adding that they would also capture the pretty women from the burnt-down houses for their carnal desire. Besides, they would hand over the captured women to the Pakistan occupation army who finally would eliminate them after having sex with them under duress, the PW added.
Salim Ullah said he used to hear gunshots before daybreak and groaning of people as he used to be dumped in the garage of Goods Hill after persecution overnight.
He said the persecutors used to torture freedom-loving people at Goods Hill hanging them upside down and hitting them with rifle butts.
“At that moment I would think that I might also be gunned down. I used to feel about my only four-month-old daughter, not about any other members of my family. And I would offer prayers to Almighty Allah seeking His blessings to protect my daughter in my absence,” recalled Salim Ullah who burst into tears as he could not check his emotion.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice M Nizamul Huq, recorded the testimony of PW Salim Ullah with his emotion in words.
“I gave my evidence before the tribunal as a persecuted man and I seek justice since I’ve been waiting for long four decades.”
Before concluding his deposition, PW Salim Ullah identified accused SQ Chowdhury in the dock.
After closing his testimony, the defence counsel for the accused cross-examined him which remained inconclusive.
The trial resumes on Tuesday.
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