'Very happy' with Mir Quasem verdict, says law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq has expressed satisfaction over Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali's war crimes verdict.

Bangladesh's second war crimes tribunal on Sunday sentenced him to death by hanging, six months after the case was wrapped up.

"I am very happy with the verdict," the minister told bdnews24.com.

The minister said that it was Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who initiated the trial of those who had 'violently opposed' the Liberation War.

"Our biggest achievement is we have proven them guilty and punished them trough a legal procedure," said Huq.

He said he hoped the verdict would be carried out soon.

Said to be one of Jamaat’s top financiers, Mir Quasem is a director of Islami Bank and chairman of the pro-Jamaat Diganta Media Corporation.

He is also the founder of Ibn Sina Trust and director of the non-government organisation, Rabita al-Alam al-Islami.

It was under his command that local collaborators of the Pakistan army let loose a reign of terror in Chittagong in 1971.

Quasem’s verdict came three days after the head of Al Badr and Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was sentenced to death by ICT-1 on Wednesday.