<i>How grocer Sayedee made his fortunes </i>

He used to be a mere grocer in 1971, but over the time became a rich man, owner of huge property in the capital and Khulna. His fortunes were earned through illegal means during Bangladesh's Liberation War.
Son of late Yousuf Ali of Southkhali village under Indurkani (Zianagar) Police Station in Pirojpur, Delawar Hossain Sayedee was born on February 1, 1940, according to the "brief account of the accused" in the verdict in the case against him.
It adds Sayedee used to sell oil, salt, onion and pepper at Parerhat Bazar in 1971 and his economic state was not so good. But he could speak Urdu well as he obtained the Alim degree [equivalent to HSC examination] from a madrasa.
The brief account also says, "He welcomed the Pakistani army at Parerhat Bazar and formed local Peace Committee and subsequently as a member of Razakar Bahini actively participated in the atrocities committed by Pakistani Army and Razakar Bahini targeting civilians, Hindu community and pro-liberation people."
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 found Sayedee guilty in eight charges of crimes against humanity, including charge No 6.
According to charge 6, on May 7, 1971, Sayedee led a team of Peace Committee to "He welcomed the Pakistani army at Parerhat Bazar and formed local Peace Committee and subsequently as a member of Razakar Bahini, actively participated in the atrocities committed by Pakistani Army and Razakar Bahini targeting civilians, Hindu community and pro-liberation people."
The tribunal found Sayedee guilty in eight charges of crimes against humanity and charge No-6 was among these.
According to charge-6, on May 7, 1971, Sayedee led a team of Peace Committee to receive Pakistani army at Parerhat Bazar and then he identified the houses and shops of the people belonging to Awami League, Hindu community and supporters of independence.
"You as one of the perpetrators raided those shops and houses and looted away valuables including 22 shers [kilograms] of gold and silver from the shop of Makhanlal Saha," the charge said.
The tribunal in its judgement said, “By adopting illegal means, he [Sayedee] became a rich man and now he is the owner of huge property including multi-storeyed buildings in Dhaka and Khulna.”
Sayedee joined Jamaat-e-Islami in 1979 as a general supporter and now he is one of the top leaders of the party.
“He is a writer by profession and known all over the Muslim world as a renowned Oazin and orator,” said Sayedee's brief account, adding that he was elected parliamentarian from Pirojpur twice in 1996 and 2001.
The account says it perused the papers submitted by Sayedee with the form filled up in the last parliament election in 2008 and found that a part of his name “Abu Nayeem Mohammad” is cut off from his name and new names such as “Allama” and “Sayedee” have been added.
“In the same form he wrote his name “Allama Delowar Hossain Sayeedi and signed it,” he said.
But the tribunal said the prosecution had alleged that after passing Alim, Sayedee did not receive any higher degrees nor he obtained doctorate degree in any subject on Islam and as such he is not legally entitled to use the title Allama or Moulana in his name.
According to principals of several madrasas, “Allama is an honorary title carried by the highest scholars of Islamic thought, jurisprudence and philosophy”.