‘Declare families of war criminals unfit to contest polls’

The activists of Gonojagoron Moncho demanded family members of war criminals be declared unfit for contesting elections. The demand was made at a programme yesterday after the notorious war criminal Mir Quasem Ali was hanged on Saturday night. The Chittagong chapter of the Gonojagoron Moncho brought out a jubilant procession from the city’s Cheragi Pahar area after Quasem’s hanging. The activists of the pro-liberation youths’ platform also demanded that the government confiscate the sizeable wealth amassed by Mir Quasem Ali, the fourth top leader of Al-Badr. He was hanged for committing war crimes during 1971 War of Liberation in the name of saving Islam and undivided Pakistan. The activists and organisers of the progressive platform also demanded that the infamous Dalim Hotel, where freedom loving Bangladeshi people were brought in and tortured to death led by Quasem, be acquired for preserving the torture cell as a memorial of Liberation War. Sharif Chowhan and Dr Chandan Das, Chittagong chapter coordinator and member secretary of the platform, Delwar Majumder, presidium member of Khelaghar, recital artist Rashed Hasan, Sunil Dhar, vice president of Chittagong chapter of Udichi and journalist Pritom Das, were present among others, at the programme.Bangladesh celebrates execution of war criminal QuasemHundreds of people from all walks of life yesterday celebrated the long waited justice served after war criminal Mir Quasem Ali was executed on Saturday night. When news broke of his hanging people from all walks of life across the country including war crimes trial campaigners and ruling party members came together as justice was finally served. Different political parties, socio-cultural organisations, and organisations representing freedom fighters expressed their relief with the execution of the war criminal by distributing sweets and bringing out joyous processions. Just after the execution of the condemned war criminal, Ganajagaran Mancha activists gathered at Shahbagh in Dhaka and brought out a procession. Meanwhile, ruling party Awami League members and its supporters brought out a joyous procession across the country including Rangpur, Khagrachari, Jessore and Faridpur. The Dhaka city (North) Chhatra League members brought out a procession with its general secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed. Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee members held a joyous procession in Mymenshingh while Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad members brought out procession and distributed sweets in Sylhet city. Convicted war criminal Mir Quasem Ali is the fourth top Al-Badr commander executed for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. He was hanged at Kashimpur Jail 2 on Saturday night.