War crimes trial to free nation from stigma

Speakers say at discussion

10 July 2010, 18:00 PM

Bss, Dhaka

Speakers at a discussion yesterday said trial of war criminals is not for taking revenge but to free the nation from the stigma of war crimes committed during the War of Liberation, leaving 30 lakh innocent Bangalees martyred and two lakh women violated. By holding trial against the heinous crimes against humanity and barbarism taken place during the country's great War of Liberation, they said the nation should have been freed from such a curse long ago. Bangabandhgu Samajkalyan Parishad organised the discussion titled `War criminals' trial: Progress and what is to be done' was held at the National Museum with its city unit President MAH Haider in the chair. Former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor and member of the advisory council of Bangladesh Awami League Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Haroon-or-Rashid, War Crimes Facts Finding Committee Convener Dr MA Hasan, Bangabandhu Samajkalyyan Parishad President Engineer Dr Shamsul Haq Bhuiyan, General Secretary SM Bahlul Majnun Chunnu, Dr M Anwar Hossain, Engineer MA Taleb, ABM Shafiul Alam, Khoka Shikder and Dr Anup Kumar Goshal took part in the discussion. Prof Azad said the people are now active with their demand for trying those directly involved in the heinous crimes against humanity in 1971. They (people), he said, votedoverwhelmingly Awami League to power during the last general election in support of upholding the PM's commitment to try the war criminals. He said the trial would be an international standard and there is no scope for violation of human rights in the trial process. Dr MA Hasan accused Ziaur Rahman of giving amnesty to the collaborators by annulling the collaborators' act after the 1975 changeover. Zia was also responsible for rehabilitating the war criminals in politics and giving them voting rights," he said, demanding annulment of all ordinances formulated by the army governments.