Confiscate properties of Mir Quasem

Victims and their families now demand that the state confiscate all moveable and immovable properties of convicted war criminal Mir Quasem Ali known as the money man of the Jamaat-e-Islami.

“How did he become an owner of huge properties? ….I want the state to investigate the matter as soon as possible and confiscate all his properties,” said Jahangir Chowdhury, a freedom fighter who testified in court against 1971 Al-Badar commander Quasem.

During the Liberation War, Mir Quasem occupied Mahamaya Bhaban in Chittagong and turned it into a torture camp named Dalim Hotel. There Jahangir was tortured for 23 days. 

Yesterday, the Appellate Division dismissed Quasem's plea to review his death sentence in the war crimes case against him.  

Hasina Khatun, 74, cousin of young freedom fighter Jasim Uddin killed after torture at Dalim Hotel, gave similar statements.

Quasem had been sentenced to death on charges of killing Jasim.

“We had a firm belief that we would get justice. But anxiety and uncertainty were looming large in our minds as the trial process was taking long,” Hasina Khatun said.

Recollecting the war-time memories, she said she had met Jasim for the last time at their Beparipara residence on Eid day in November 1971. That day Jasim wanted to have polao and meat.

Jasim went missing after leaving the house. Later, his family learnt from advocate Shafi, who was released from Dalim Hotel, that Jasim was picked up by Al Badr men and taken to the torture camp where he was brutally killed. Jasim's body was thrown into the Karnaphuli river. 

“Now the government should confiscate the war criminal's properties so that those cannot be used in anti-state activities in future,” said Hasina, adding that she now wanted to see quick execution of the verdict.

The war-time commando-in- chief who gave training to freedom fighters, Jahangir was picked up by the Pakistani Army and Al-Badr men from his residence at Kadamtali in the city when he went to visit his mother.

On instructions of Mir Quasem, Al Badr men took him to Dalim Hotel and tortured him. Freedom fighters rescued him from the camp on December 16, 1971.

The prosecution produced in court evidence of millions of dollars having been spent by Mir Quasem on consultancy and lobbying against the war crimes trial, Jahangir said.

“As far as I know he[Quasem] worked at a public relations office in a foreign country. It's a big question where did he get the money from?”

It is high time now to investigate the matter, he added.