Resignation of war crimes probe chief demanded

3 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Justice Gholam Rabbani speaks at a discussion at Bilia auditorium in the city yesterday on the occasion of the 81st birth anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam. Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the event. Photo: STAR

Speakers at a discussion yesterday demanded resignation of chief investigator Abdul Matin of the war crimes investigation agency who has been accused of being a member of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the pre-independence student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Expressing concern over this issue, they said any controversy regarding a key figure of the trial process demonstrate lack of groundwork by the government. Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee or Forum for Secular Bangladesh organised the discussion in the city to mark the 81st birth anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam. The speakers also demanded a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and immediate arrest of the main war crimes accused. Shahriar Kabir, acting chairperson of the Nirmul Committee said, "Islami Chhatra Sangha is the wing that created Al Badr. If he (the chief investigator) was a part of that wing, we can quite logically call him a collaborator, which disqualifies him from the post. The government must conduct a proper investigation into this issue." Terming the incident unfortunate, lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon said, "The government must act immediately to find out how such allegations can surface even after an extensive vetting process carried out by different ministries and agencies during appointment." He also said funding of the religion-based political parties also needs to be monitored. Justice Gholam Rabbani stressed the need to involve citizens in the process of war crimes trial, as they are the key witnesses of the atrocities. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir MP said the Matin issue will be dealt with utmost priority. State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin, General Secretary of CPB Mujahidul Islam Selim, Shaheed Jaya Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, Prof Mizanur Rahman and Barrister Turin Afroze also spoke.