Call to speed up trial of war criminals

16 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Delay in the process of war crimes trial is making the people feel frustrated and giving a chance to the war criminals to hatch conspiracies to foil the trial, eminent citizens said at a discussion yesterday. They urged the government to speed up the trial. They also called on the BNP to help carry out the trial instead of creating obstacles to it. Oikyabaddha Nagorik Samaj organised the discussion on 'Trial of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the international context and the context of Bangladesh' at the National Museum auditorium in the city, with Justice Gholam Rabbani in the chair. Prof Muntasir Mamun said, “We thank the government as they have started the trial process as per their election pledges. But we are not satisfied because the trial process is slow. The government should make it faster.” Lawyer Dr M Zahir urged the BNP and the family members of Ziaur Rahman not to support the war criminals. Former army chief Lt Gen (retd) Harun-or-Rashid warned that the war criminals and their accomplices are trying to hatch conspiracy to foil the trial. “The trial process faced a hurdle in the beginning due to a fault in the recruitment process. The government should speed up the trial by allocating enough funds and ensuring all facilities for the trial,” he added. Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said, “We have got a chance to try the war criminals after 38 years. We must not fail this time.” Justice Gholam Rabbani said the people of Bangladesh want to see the trial and it will certainly be held on the soil of Bangladesh. Prof Anisuzzaman, War Crimes Facts Finding Committee convener Dr MA Hasan and former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal also spoke at the discussion. At the programme, a documentary on the killing of Bangalees by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators in 1971 was screened.