Banks asked to suspend accounts of Mir Kasem
The National Board of Revenue yesterday asked banks and financial institutions to suspend transactions in the accounts of Jamaat-e-Islami executive committee member and Diganta Media Corporation Chairman Mir Kasem Ali and his family members.
The Central Intelligence Cell of the NBR sent letters in this regard to all banks and financial institutions concerned, also directing them to send information about the latest balance in those accounts to the cell.
The NBR letter mentioned Mir Kasem Ali as the director of Keari Limited and Rabitat Al Alam Al Islami.
Kasem's family members whose bank accounts have been suspended are his wife Khandker Ayesha Khatun, sons Dr Muhammad Bin Kasem and Meer Ahmed Bin Kasem, daughters Hasina Tayeba, Tahera Hasnin and Sumaiya Rabeya.
Meer Kasem Ali, who is known for his anti-Liberation War role, left Bangladesh for Saudi Arabia on March 24 by a Qatar Airways flight through the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Sources said his name is on the list of suspected war criminals barred from leaving the country. But he had left before the list reached the airport authorities.
Kasem was the general secretary of East Pakistan Islami Chhatra Sangha in 1971 and addressed a rally organised by the Al Badr on December 10, 1971, at Baitul Mukarram Mosque to create public opinion against "Hindustani attacks".
He called upon people not to get misled by the "rumours and false publicity of Hindustani warmongers and Akash Bani", reported the Daily Azad on December 11, 1971.
Kasem was also the president of Chittagong City Islami Chhatra Sangha and chief of the Chittagong district Razakar forces. It is alleged in several historical documents that Kasem led the Al Badr force in Chittagong.
On Wednesday, the civil aviation ministry sought explanation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on Kasem's departure through the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The same day Home Minister Sahara Khatun told the media that she did not know whether Kasem was in the country or abroad. "I have read the news in different newspapers," she said.
Asked how he could leave the country, Sahara said, "We have asked the investigation agencies to probe the matter," and that she would not be able to say anything before getting the investigation report.
After the media revealed that Kasem had left the country, Diganta Media in a statement said its chairman went abroad on a business trip and will return on time.
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