Call to start trial of war criminals without delay

26 June 2010, 18:00 PM

DU Correspondent

Various socio-cultural organisations observed the 16th death anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam yesterday with a call to start the trial of war criminals immediately. Jahanara Imam, who became the symbol of mother of martyrs (Shaheed Janani), initiated a movement for the trial of war criminals through forming Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee in 1992. She passed away due to cancer two years later. To mark her death anniversary, the Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam Memorial Museum arranged a power-point presentation on her life and works at the museum in the city. To pay tribute to Jahanara Imam, visitors throng the museum where books written by Jahanara Imam and her memorabilia, photos of family members and memorabilia of her son Shafi Imam Rumi, who was martyred during the liberation war, are being displayed. Shariful Islam, a master's student of Dhaka University, who came to visit the museum yesterday, said the new generation should know about the contribution of Jahanara Imam and her family members to the war of liberation in 1971. He also said the government should hold the trial of war criminals immediately as Jahanara Imam had carried out a massive campaign for the trial. Susmita Shikdar, curator of the museum, said Saif Imam, the youngest son of Jahanara Imam, establish the museum in 2007. It remains open from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays. Young boys and girls who visit the museum are very interested to know about Jahanara Imam and her martyred son, she said. The museum officials placed wreaths at the graveyard of Jahanara at the Mirpur Intellectuals' Graveyard in the morning. Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal also placed wreaths. Placing wreaths at her grave, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote held a commemorative meeting where the speakers demanded immediate start of the trial of war criminals to fulfil the dream of Jahanara Imam. Besides, Dhaka City Tanti League, Bangabandhu Nagorik Sanghati Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Parishad, Prajonmo '71 and Jatiya Hindu Parishad also observed the day.