Ganajagaran Mancha hails Mir Quasem review verdict confirming death

The Ganajagaran Mancha has hailed the Supreme Court quashing Mir Quasem Ali's death sentence review plea and termed it a victory of justice over the might of money.

The five-strong bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice S K Sinha on Tuesday dismissed the petition.

 On Nov 2, 2014, the capital punishment was handed over to Jamaat-e-Islami business baron Mir Quasem by the International Crimes Tribunal that had found him guilty of atrocities committed during Bangladesh's War of Independence in 1971.

 The rejection has cleared the last legal resort that could have shielded the former Al Badr commander from the gallows. 

The news of the rejection of the review plea sent ripples of happiness among the Ganajagaran Mancha rank and file who had organised a sit-in in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh from 8am, raising slogans demanding the severest sentence for war criminals.

They took out processions to celebrate after Mir Quasem's plea was rejected.

In his immediate reaction, Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker said that they had been worried because the verdict of the review plea for others came within one to two weeks. But in Mir Quasem's case, it took five months.

 "Apart from this Mir Quasem used the might of his money to try and hinder the case. There was doubt in the mass mind if he would influence the outcome of the case. The rejection of the review plea has put all those apprehensions at rest," Imran said and added, "Justice has won over money."

He demanded that the property of the war criminals be confiscated and used for the benefit of the nation.

Calling for the speedy execution of Mir Quasem, he said, "There is every chance that Mir Quasem could use his money to deliver a mortal bite on the nation. He is already accused of funding terrorists. So the verdict must be executed as quickly as possible."