Bangladesh Supreme Court upholds Jamaat leader’s death penalty

The Bangladesh Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld death sentence for Mir Quasem Ali, former Al-Badr and Jammat-e-Islami Party leader, for being involved in atrocities against Bangalis during the Liberation War in 1971.

Al-Badr was a paramilitary wing of the West Pakistan Army, which operated in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against the Bengali nationalist movement during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The verdict cited the crimes against humanity that were committed by Quasem as the Chittagong area commander of the Al-Badr.

The International Crimes Tribunal has upheld the punishment on eight counts, acquitted him on one, and changed the penalty in another. Quasem has challenged the verdict, bdnews24.com reported. People across the country rejoiced over the court’s decision. Celebratory marches were held at some places.

Quasem was the Al-Badr’s third most important functionary after Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid. His funding helped the Jamaat secure a strong foothold in independent Bangladesh.

Quasem has been a member of the JeI’s central executive council and the party’s fifth most important leader.