What should we do with the seized assets of war criminals?
Kudos to Mayor Annisul Huq for his move to take over the illegal part of the land of Pakistani Governor Abdul Monem Khan. In the midst of such a move, demands have come from Ghatok Dalal Normul Committee to seize all properties of war criminals and other anti-Bangladesh entities.
This is perhaps a demand made late, but we can still bring it to fruition.
It is, however, interesting to note that the place was rented by the American Embassy for a long time, as the American Centre, which many thought was indirect patronisation of pro-Pakistani elements, despite being on an illegal plot.
My father, Lt Col Abdul Qadir, owned a plot in Karachi DOHS, but it has now been abandoned, as he was seen as a “traitor” by the Pakistani government.
He was a freedom fighter who had given his life for Bangladesh.
But some others had the opportunity to sell their lands in Karachi DOHS under mysterious circumstances.
My widowed mother lost the benefit of the Karachi DOHS, and was denied a plot in independent Bangladesh on one pretext or the other. That is a different debate that too needs attention, but now I have other things on my mind.
The demand by Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee to turn Monem Khan’s house into a hospital for freedom fighters and families of the martyrs is a move in the right direction
Monem Khan was killed by Mukti Bahini, and one wonders how his family continued to enjoy all rights, including the right to own illegal land in a prestigious area like Banani.
Bag-e-Momen is the seed that needs to be uprooted once and for all. It stands as a reminder that anti-liberation forces were rehabilitated and honoured like this since the 1975 assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The demand by Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee to turn Monem Khan’s house into a hospital for freedom fighters and families of the martyrs is a move in the right direction.
It is high time the government enacted a law to seize all properties belonging to war criminals and pro-Pakistani elements.
What do we do with these seized properties?
Of course, the common choice is freedom fighters and shaheed families.
I do not disagree, but we must also make other categories.
Ace players and other professionals who make a name for the country and have no property should be eligible.
I knew a teacher who was awarded, but died leaving no property for his family. The family suffered a lot as a result of this.
There are many cases like that, and it is our duty to help the government find them and help them.
Regarding freedom fighters and shaheeds, we must ensure that it is not the families or individuals with special connections who get their hands on these seized properties.
Let us not waste any time and hasten our moves onto these matters.
Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism. He is the Press Minister of Bangladesh High Commission in London.
source: The Dhaka Tribune
