War Crimes Trial
Investigators glean crucial info from Mir Quashem Ali
War crimes investigators yesterday said they gleaned “important information” from Mir Quashem Ali about the Jamaat leader's alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during 1971 and appointing lobbyists abroad for a campaign against his trial.
After a six-hour-long interrogation at a “safe house” in Dhanmondi, coordinator of the investigation agency of international crimes tribunals Abdul Hannan Khan said they would need more time to quiz Quashem.
He said they would ask the tribunal for more time to interrogate the arrested Jamaat central executive committee member.
Hannan said Quashem admitted that he was the president of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, of Chittagong in 1971.
Prosecution documents of other cases say that Al-Badr was made up of members of Islami Chhatra Sangha. Al-Badr collaborated with the Pakistani occupation force in killing intellectuals and committing genocide during the war.
Hannan said as the chief of the Chittagong Islami Chhatra Sangha, Quashem had played a vital role in organising the Al-Badr in Chittagong and establishing a “torture camp” at Mohamaya Dalim Hotel.
Hannan said Quashem also admitted to being a student of Chittagong College during the Liberation War.
He said they would verify the information they gathered from him so far.
Nurul Islam, investigation officer of the case, told The Daily Star that they got “important information” about Quashem's alleged investment for appointing lobbyists abroad to campaign against his trial.
None of the investigators agreed to disclose more about what Quashem told them for the investigation's sake.
Taking approval from the International Crimes Tribunal-1, a team of investigation agency interrogated Quashem from 10:00am to 5:00pm with an hour's lunch recess.
Meanwhile, defence counsels of Mir Quashem alleged that the investigation agency did not inform them about quizzing their client even though the tribunal directed them to do so two days in advance.
Defence counsel Tajul Islam told The Daily Star that they would file a contempt of court petition with the tribunal in this regard.
Hannan said a physician, one of Quashem's sons, who is also a lawyer, was present at the “safe house” during the first half of the interrogation. He said they had informed the registrar of the tribunal on September 9 that they would quiz Quashem yesterday.
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