New citizens' platform urges govt to initiate talks

Sammilito Nagorik Samaj, a newly formed citizens' platform, yesterday called for dialogue among political forces to restore stability with the ruling party initiating the efforts, and urged the government to go tough on the ongoing acts of terror to protect the lives and properties of the people. 
Addressing a national convention of the platform, Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, its convener, said the defeated force of 1971 was carrying out the acts of sabotage, like petrol bomb attacks. "They are not social forces. They are anti-social evil forces. Peace will not come unless the evil forces are quelled," he added.
The convention with the slogan "Get united to resist violence, terror and militancy and to build a secular, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh" took place at the capital's Institution of Engineers Bangladesh.
Eminent banker Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled said the Razakars, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani army, made up of local collaborators in 1971, killed people and torched houses during the Liberation War, while the "new Razakars" were burning people to death by firebombing. 
This new breed of Razakars must be brought to book, he added.
Vice President of Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) Abu Osman Chowdhury said the sabotage was aimed at saving the war criminals, and the directives were coming from London. He urged the government to execute the war crimes verdicts immediately and publicly.
Tarique Rahman, senior vice chairman of BNP, which leads a 20-party alliance that enforced a non-stop countrywide blockade on January 6, has been living in London since 2008.
At least 94 people have died in political violence across the country since January 5.
Sammilito Nagorik Samaj also urged the government to prosecute the troublemakers under the anti-terrorism act, take action against any organisation if it patronises militancy or gets involved in militancy in the guise of politicking, and take effective measures to stop terror financing.
The convention started with the national anthem and a minute of silence commemorating those killed in the blockade violence. 
At the end of the programme, Ibrahim Khaled announced a 42-member national committee of the platform with Kholiquzzaman as convener and SCF Joint Secretary General M Hamid as member secretary.
Maj Gen (retd) Helal Morshed Khan Bir Bikram, chairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Central Command Council; Maj Gen (retd) Abdur Rashid, executive director of the Institute of Conflicts, Laws and Development Studies; Ashraf Uddin Chowdhuy, president of Bangladesh Economic Association; and AKMA Hamid, president of the Institute of Diploma Engineers of Bangladesh, among others, spoke at the programme. 
Nilufar Banu, executive director of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, moderated it.