Begum Zia on war crimes
The other day Begum Zia again made her position clear that she is dead against the trial of war criminals (local collaborators of Pakistani soldiers) as she said that bringing the criminals to justice would 'divide the nation'. The nation is already divided between pro-BNP and pro-AL, and there is no denying that late Ziaur Rahman did sow the seed of division by forsaking the ideals of our liberation war, by amending the constitution and by rehabilitating the members of the banned religious parties (anti-state elements). He made it possible for the number one war criminal Golam Azam, a Pakistani citizen, to come to Dhaka and gave him all protection. He made Shah Azizur Rahman who led the Pakistani delegation to the UN in 1971 to thwart the birth of this nation as Independent Bangladesh, the Prime Minister, and some Rajakars were made his cabinet ministers. Remember, Begum Zia only followed the suit of her late husband and accorded Golam Azam Bangladeshi citizenship and made the latter's disciples, Nizami and Mojaheed, who worked with the Pakistani soldiers to save their beloved Pakistan, ministers. In Begum Zia's first term of rule one of the most celebrated and venerated ladies of Bangladesh, Jahan Ara Imam formed Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and in 1994 held a public trial in the Race Course (now Suhrawardy Uddayan) and with endorsement of lakhs of people present she awarded symbolic capital punishment to Golam Azam and gong. Begum Zia, with the same mindset of her late husband, brought treason charges against Jahanara Imam and other members of the GDNC. To please the collaborators and their master Pakistan, Begum Zia did not withdraw the case as she kept no secret about her prejudice with the ant- state elements and Jahanara Imam died with the treason charge on her person.
The demand for war crimes trial is not a new issue.
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