It is indeed disconcerting to see that the minorities living in Raozan area in Chittagong, once terrorised by Salahuddin Quader Choudhury, continue to still live in a state of fear of retribution. Given that there was violence in these areas following the original verdict in 2013, the fears may not be entirely unfounded, and this is what begs the question. 

Not only during the tumultuous period of 1971 did Salahuddin and his cohorts perpetrate the worst kind of brutality on the local people in collaboration with the Pak army, even well after independence, and particularly after he was rehabilitated in politics, he had continued with his old ways. The problem that the prosecution faced in presenting the eye witnesses in the ICTs, fear of retribution being the main impeding factor, is well recorded. 

We would like to see the state take an immediate and proactive measure to ensure that not only are the witnesses provided with adequate protection, the people of the area in general must also be provided with all the safety and security protection from the retributory reactions of the supporters of the convicted war criminals. This is also necessary for proper conduct of future trials of the war criminals. After all, the trials and punishments of the war criminals would become meaningless if the victims continue to suffer from a fear psychosis even after these criminals have met their fate in the hands of law. That would be a defeat of sorts for the people, particularly the direct victims of the brutality.