13th April will also be remembered for yet another tragic death. A band of rogues led by Salahuddin entered the house of Chittaranjan Biswas, a respected resident of Gohira at half past ten in the morning, picked up Biswas's son Doyal Hori Biswas, a student leader, and brutally killed him.

On 25 April 1991, the local Awami League leader Abdullah Al-Harun filed an election case with the Election Commission against Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his accomplices. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was number one in the list of the seven defendants in the case. Relating the misdeeds of Salahuddin, Abdullah Al-Harun mentioned, the number one defendant believes in using force, brutality and terrorism. He never cares about law. He never had any respect toward the election rules and norms. Neither does he believe in people's mandate. In 1971, while supporting the then Pakistani forces the Number 1 defendant played a most deplorable and heinous role against the war of liberation. He had been involved in many incidents of killing and looting. On 13.4.1972 a case under the Collaborator's Act, bearing number 17 was filed against him with the Hathazari Police Station in Chittagong. Cases bearing numbers 41 (1) 72 and 43 (1) 72 were filed with the Rauzan Police Station against the defendant for the murder of philanthropist Nutan Chandra Sinha. Such was his position that after the liberation of Bangladesh the Number 1 defendant fled the country to save his life. With his habitual tactics and connivance this defendant even became a member of the cabinet of Ershad (military dictator).

The hearing of the case of Nutan Chandra Sinha's murder was held in 1972. There were 12 witnesses including Nutan Chandra Sinha's son Sattya Ranjan Sinha. The FIR number of the case is U/S302/120(13)/298 under Bangladesh Penal Code. The hearing began on 29th January, 1972. Saka Chowdhury and five other defendants were absconding. On the other hand, rest of the defendants including his father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury was in the jail custody. In the charge sheet of the case it was mentioned that the complaints against Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and other defendants were proven true.

Sheikh Mohammad Jahangir, son of another martyr of Chittagong, informed the People's Investigation Commission that on 17 April 1971 with the help of the Pakistan Army Saka Chowdhury and his accomplices picked up his father Shaheed Sheikh Muzaffar Ahmed and his brother Shaheed Sheikh Alamgeer from a road in Hathazari and took them to the nearby Pakistan Army camp. And later on they were killed in that camp.

After liberation, complainant Sheikh Mohammad Jahangir also filed a case against Saka Chowdhury and his accomplices. Harun-ur-Rashid Khan, is a leader of Jatya Party in Chittagong. During the liberation war in 1971 he was a liaison officer of the liberation army (he was appointed to that post by the commander of Sector 1, Major Rafiqul Islam). As part of his duty Harun-ur-Rashid formed a publicity cell and with the help of informers he collected information on Salahuddin and the killings, lootings and other activities carried out by him. Compiling the information he used to send reports to the commander of Sector 1, Major Rafiqul Islam and the political leaders engaged in the war. While doing this job he came to know how Saka, his dad Foka and their notorious crew used to pick up and bring hundreds of freedom fighters and people supporting Bangladesh cause to their Good's Hill residence and brutally tortured them to death.

The Saka/Foka gang also picked up women and handed them to the military for their carnal pleasure. Just before independence, Salahuddin fled the country. The freedom fighters missed him narrowly while chasing him. However, it is believed that of the bullets fired at him one had hit him in the leg. Having returned to Bangladesh, even after 32 years of independence, Saka Chowdhury is still engaged in extortion, lootings, terrorism and murder in Chittagong district, particularly in Rauzan. This can be substantiated by reports from the Detective Department of the government.

Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury (commonly known as Saka Chow), son of Late Fazlul Quader (Foka) Chowdhury, hails from village Gohira under Rouzan police station of Chittagong district. A member of the parliament, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury is the advisor for parliamentary affairs to the Prime Minister Mrs. Khaleda Zia. He is a very controversial character and is notorious for involvement in criminal activities and shifting allegiance to political ideologies. One may wonder as to how Saka Chowdhury gets elected as a member of parliament. He wins simply by the power of the muscle intimidating voters and stuffing ballot boxes. His notoriety as a godfather and a mafia don and his ruthless suppression of any opposition win him parliamentary elections.

During the War of Liberation of Bangladesh Saka led an extensive campaign against the freedom of the country and lent all out support to the Pakistan occupation army. All his heinous activities were concentrated in the district of Chittagong. Under the guidance of his father Foka Chowdhury and with the support of his brother Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and many such like-minded anti-liberation people he conducted anti-liberation war activities from his Good’s Hill residence in Chittagong.

Prior to the surrender of Pakistani occupation force in Bangladesh Salahuddin fled the country. After the unfortunate and brutal murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15TH August 1975 the absconding Salahuddin returned home.

Why is Salahuddin not fit for the position of Secretary General of OIC?

He is a War Criminal: In 1971 he killed civilians, killed people on political, religious and racial grounds. He was deeply involved in looting public and private properties.

He is a Mafia Don: He is well known for his involvement in smuggling business. Everyone in Chittagong is aware if his terrorist activities. He manages his activities through a powerful mafia network within the country. For smuggling, he also has a strong network outside the country. Nothing happens to him even after publicly calling Khaleda Zia a bitch. This proves how strong is his influence in the higher level of the present government and how heavy is his financial strength. This also gives an idea about his network outside the country.

He is a Godfather: As a practicing political leader he provides shelter to smuggling rings and terrorist cadres who serve his wishes.

He is a Political Opportunist: He has switched from party to party with the change of political regimes. He is completely unscrupulous in gaining his objectives and uses regionalism or religion whatever suits for political gains and for hiding his misdeeds:

He is unreliable: He began his political life as a member of the Muslim League in Pakistan. Returning to Bangladesh he joined the new Muslim League as resurrected under the patronage of the then military ruler General Ziaur Rahman. He switched over to Jatiya Party when the next military ruler General H M Ershad launched the party and became a Minister under him. When Ershad Government faced problems he left JP and formed a new Party of his own. Later he switched to BNP and was elected an MP. In an interesting drama he was expelled from BNP in May 2001 but was taken back in September to contest the elections in October 2001.

The National People’s Investigation Commission was formed with eleven prominent personalities of the country to investigate the activities of the war criminals during the liberation war of Bangladesh. A report released by the commission on 26 March 1995 revealed Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury’s heinous misdeeds in 1971. Following are some excerpts from the report.

a) In an article on 8TH January, 1972 in The Dainik Bangla the following was reported on the anti-liberation activities of Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury. "Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury used to pick up and bring hundreds of young men to their Good’s Hill bungalow in Chittagong and torture them brutally. Among these unfortunate people was Late Dr.Sanaullah’s son. On 17TH July 1971 Salahuddin picked up student leader Farooque and killed him with the help of the Pakistani soldiers. From 26TH March till the liberation of the country a platoon of Pakistani soldiers was stationed to guard his bungalow. After liberation, on 18TH December 1971 the freedom fighters caught Fazlul Quader Chowdhury along with his family members when they were fleeing Chittagong carrying more than 120 pounds of looted gold ornaments". Incidentally S Q Chowdhury had alreat fled the country.

b) On page 69 of his book ‘The History of Bangalee’s War of Liberation’, Mahbub-ul-Anwar wrote, "Nizamuddin was released from the Chittagong Jail on 18TH November. And Nizam relates... ‘I was picked up on 5TH July. Then I was taken to Fazlul Quader Chowdhury. There, Fazlul Quader’s son Salahuddin along with his accomplices Khoka, Khalil and Yusuf tied my hands behind and started beating me up with thick batons and canes. They continued this for about five hours when I finally lost consciousness. On the night of 6TH July at 11 O’clock they dispatched me to the stadium. Till then I was not given anything to eat, not even a drop of water.... On 13TH July I was sent to jail. During this period they used to regularly beat me hanging me by my legs. The only food for the day was two pieces of hand rolled bread and water. They used to kick me on any pretext. In such a situation, being a Muslim, in my Namaz I prayed to Allah for solace. Even in my Namaz they used to kick me from behind, shouting, "You have turned a Hindu, Namaz is not for you".

c) On 13TH April Principal Natun Chandra Sinha was killed. Setting up a machine gun on the roof Gohira High School the military started firing all around from the morning. Many of the bullets hit the Kundeswari Building. Earlier, the venerable principal, pre-empting such a situation, had moved away the occupants of the building. But he himself stayed back holding on to the Kundeswari Building. Expecting the military to pay a visit he had laid out chairs and tables in the courtyard to greet them. The military did come in two jeeps. In one of the jeeps was riding Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, son of Fazlul Quader Chowdhury. Behind them were stationed four tanks on the Kundeswari Road, set ready for attack. The principal greeted and entertained the military personnel. He explained to them the welfare work undertaken by his organization and informed them of his intention to continue with it. Being satisfied the military left. However, Salahuddin brought them back again, because his father had instructed him not to leave this infidel alive. On that day the bravery was not of the people with arms in hand. It was the courage of the unarmed seventy-year-old man that made it memorable. He stood still, ready to embrace martyrdom. They fired thrice at him. One bullet hit him just below one of his eyes. One hit his hand and the third went into his chest. Crying out for his mother he fell to the ground. For him it were not the Hindus only who lamented but many Muslims also cried.

d) The hearing of the case of Nutan Chandra Sinha’s murder was held in 1972. There were 12 witnesses including Nutan Chandra Sinha’s son Sattya Ranjan Sinha. The FIR number of the case is U/S302/120(13)/298 under Bangladesh Penal Code. The hearing began on 29TH January, 1972. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and five other defendants were absconding. On the other hand, rest of the defendants including his father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury was in jail custody. In the charge sheet of the case it was mentioned that the complaints against Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and other defendants were proven true.

e) Thirteenth April will be remembered for yet another sad death. A band of rogues led by Salahuddin entered the house of Chittaranjan Biswas a respected resident of Gohira at half past ten in the morning. They picked up Biswas’s son Doyal Hori Biswas, a student leader, and brutally killed him.

Sheikh Mohammad Jahangir, son of another martyr of Chittagong, informed the People’s Investigation Commission that on 17TH April 1971 with the help of the Pakistan Army Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his accomplices picked up his father Shaheed Sheikh Muzaffar Ahmed and his brother Shaheed Sheikh Alamgeer from a road in Hathazari and took them to the nearby Pakistan Army camp. And later on they were killed in that camp. After liberation, complainant Sheikh Mohammad Jahangir also filed a case against Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his accomplices.

Harun-ur-Rashid Khan, is a leader of Jatya Party in Chittagong. During the liberation war in 1971 he was a liaison officer of the liberation army (he was appointed to that post by the commander of Sector 1, Major Rafiqul Islam). While discharging his duty Harun-ur-Rashid formed an intelligence cell and with the help of informers he collected information on Salahuddin and the killings, lootings and other activities carried out by him. Compiling the information he used to send reports to the commander of Sector 1, Major Rafiqul Islam and the political leaders engaged in the war. While doing this job he came to know how Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury and their accomplices used to pick up and bring innumerable number of freedom fighters and the like minded people to their Good’s Hill residence and kill them by brutal torture. They even picked up women and handed them to the military for their carnal pleasure. Just before liberation Salahuddin fled the country. The freedom fighters missed him narrowly while chasing him. However, it is believed that of the bullets fired at him one had hit him in the thigh.

2. The Terrorist Connection

a) AK 47 Case : Top terrorist Rafiq alias Bachaiya was arrested by the army on 27 November 2002 during Operation Clean Heart, launched by the present regime against terrorism. The army recovered one AK 47 rifle, one 9 mm pistol, one indigenous pistol, a bulletproof jacket along with 4 rifle magazines and one pistol magazine, 195 rounds of AK 47 bullets, 7 rounds of pistol bullets and 16 pieces of knives from Bachaiya. Bachaiya was a tea-boy in a teashop in 1989-90. In 1992 he came into contact with the Saka Group (Salahuddin’s group of terrorists). Having joined Saqa Group he eventually turned into a top terrorist with blessings of Salahuddin. After his arrest Bachaiya told the newspaper reporters that whatever murder, kidnapping, extortion and arson he committed were done under the orders of Salahuddin and his brother Giasuddin.*

b) Nitol Murder : An activist of the BNP student wing Chhatradal, Shahidul Alam Nitol was gunned down on 29 May 2001 in front of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury’s residence at Good’s Hill in Chittagong. After the incident, the police nabbed Salahuddin while he was fleeing from his house along with his 11 accomplices. As evidence, several bullet shells were recovered from the front of the sentry box of Salahuddin’s residence. Nitol’s fault was that he had refused the invitation from Salahuddin to join his terrorist group. A case (no. 87/29.5.2001) was filed against Salahuddin along with his accomplices in this regard. It is interesting to note that after the BNP Alliance came to power the names of Salahuddin and his brother were secretly withdrawn from the case on 4 November 2002 whereas the very same party had earlier made allegations against him for this murder.

c) Recovery of Illegal Arms : After Nitol murder on 29 May 2001 police raided Salahuddin’s residence the same evening and recovered 2 telescopic rifles, 1 revolver, 1 pistol, 2 air-guns, 3 Motorola Wireless sets, 173 rounds of rifle bullets, 250 rounds of pistol bullets, 52 cartridges, 1 sword, 2 knives, 3 daggers and 3 bullet-proof jackets. None of the fire-arms were licensed. The police also collected a pistol and 57 rounds of bullets from his person. A case was filed against him under the Arms Act.

d). Cadre Arrested : On 6 June 2003 police arrested 3 armed cadres of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury from his village home in Rouzan, Chittagong. The police recovered 2 single-barrel and 1 double-barrel guns. These miscreants were involved in extortion, ransom and toll-collection in the area under the protection of Salahuddin.

3. International Terrorist Connection & Smuggling

a. While working as a broker at the Dhaka International Airport in 1976-77 S Q Chowdhury came into contact with the international terrorist/smuggling network. In 1977-78 he developed acquaintance with the infamous international smuggler Haji Mastan in Dubai. With the help of Haji Mastan he started his shipping business of Q.C. Teal. While conducting international smuggling he befriended Daud Ibrahim in Dubai and Imtiaz Khodadad in Karachi. He also used to supply arms to the rebels in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

b. Assistant Police Superintendent of Ukhia Circle in Cox’s Bazar sent a report (Memo no.1811 dated 26.6.2000) to the Police Superintendent of Cox’s Bazar. The report quoted that on secret information the police had learnt that during the previous BNP regime (1991-96) Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury smuggled in modern arms and ammunition from different countries to supply to the Rohingya separatists. The Assistant Police Super also furnished a list of 12 illegal arms traders with Salahuddin’s name topping the list.

c) The Asia Times in its 6 February 2002 issue wrote in an article "Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his brother Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury both BNP leaders and alleged smugglers are actively involved in abetting fundamentalists, militant groups such as Harkat-ul-Jihad and rightist political parties such as JEI and IOJ".

d) On 14 October 1996 a group of 12 motor bikers were coming out of Jetty # 3 of Chittagong Port where a ship of Q.C. Teal was moored. Noticing their suspicious movement the police on duty challenged them and recovered 168 pieces of gold bars worth Taka 11.7 million. Also recovered from them was a delivery note of Q.C. Teal bearing number 954/96. All these 12 bikers were the employees of Q.C. Teal. In this connection a case was filed the same day 14 October 1996 with the Port Police station under Customs Act 165(8) and under Section 25B of Special Powers Act. Needless to mention that Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury owns Q.C.Teal.

4. Rauzan: The locality of horror and terror

Once Rauzan, which is the heart of the constituency S Q Chowdhury represents, was a very peaceful place where its inhabitants could move around freely, could laugh without restrictions, could cry in the open without fear and had faith in each other. Today, the scenario has changed. With murders, torture of the minorities, kidnapping, extortion and theft on the everyday menu Rouzan is now benumbed, dead. During the last 16 years more than 200 murders were committed in Rouzan (The Daily Janakantha 20.5.2003), the electoral constituency of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury. Here, each and every voter has to be the supporter of Salahuddin. Or else the person would be permanently eliminated. No one can speak against the reign of terror unleashed by Salahuddin and his followers.

On 25 April 1991 the local Awami League leader Abdullah Al-Harun filed an election case with the Election Commission against Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and his accomplices. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was number one in the list of the seven defendants in the case. Relating the misdeeds of Salahuddin, Abdullah Al-Harun mentioned, ‘the number one defendant believes in using force, brutality and terrorism. He never cares about law. He never had any respect toward the election rules and norms. Neither does he believe in people’s mandate’.

5. Latest News

Right now, Salahuddin is in the centre of a controversy for his obscene and most derogatory comments about women of Bangladesh and the state language movement that he made while addressing the closing ceremony of a book fair on 31 May 2003 in the town of Feni.

Reference:

1. Liberation Museum

2. Killers and Collaborators of 1971: An Account of Their Whereabouts, compiled and published by the Center for the Development of the Spirit of the Liberation War

3. Commission on War Criminals of Bangladesh

4. Saiduzzaman Raushan: Speeches and Statements of Killers & Collaborators of 1971

5. Sarwar Hossain, DESHDIGANTA and Ranjan Chowdhury, CANADA