The Appellate Division yesterday fixed February 2 for hearing an appeal by Jamaat-e-Islami’s key financier Mir Quasem Ali, seeking review of his death penalty for war crimes.
Chief Justice SK Sinha-led four-member bench fixed the date on Wednesday, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said.
Al-Badr commander Quasem was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on November 3, 2014. The court described him as being in a “steering and guiding position” of the notorious militia formed to thwart Bangalis’ struggle for freedom.
The tribunal handed down the death penalty on two charges – for the killing seven people including one Jasimuddin. He was cleared of four charges but given a total of 72-year imprisonment on several other charges including abduction, conspiracy and planning.
Jamaat Central Executive Council member Quasem denied the charges and put forth 181 points in the review petition seeking acquittal.
He joined Jamaat’s erstwhile student front Islami Chhatra Sangha in 1967 while studying at Chittagong Collegiate School and went on to became its Chittagong City unit general secretary.
He played a key role in forming al-Badr that orchestrated systematic killing of freedom fighters and intellectuals.
