Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman testified at ICT out of 'personal grudge and malice': Sheikh Hasina's lawyer
The lawyer claims that no corruption or killings took place during Hasina’s tenure
The lawyer representing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, alleged that Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman testified against them at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) out of "personal grudge and malice".
During cross-examination today (17 September), state-appointed counsel Md Amir Hossain claimed that no corruption or killings took place during Hasina's tenure and that Mahmudur Rahman's testimony was driven by "personal hatred."
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As the 46th prosecution witness, Mahmudur Rahman spoke of what he termed the Awami League's "misrule," referencing the July–August massacres and a 16-year history of enforced disappearances and killings.
Amir Hossain questioned him point by point on each allegation and referred to several of Rahman's books—Hasinar Fascibad: Nirbason Theke Dekha, Gumer Jonany, The Political History of Muslim Bengal, and The Rise of Indian Hegemon in South Asia—alleging that they were written out of animosity toward Hasina and ignored her positive works.
Mahmudur Rahman rejected the accusation, saying his book The Rise of Indian Hegemon in South Asia was his PhD thesis and that "no one writes a PhD thesis out of malice."
The cross-examination ended at 1:20pm.
Later, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told reporters that with Mahmudur Rahman's testimony, examination of 46 witnesses had been completed.
He added that Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), would testify next as the 47th witness before the testimony of the investigation officer concludes the phase.
