Call to hold trial of parties involved in war crimes

19 January 2012, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

(From left) Shahriar Kabir, Moinuddin Khan Badal, Ghulam Rabbani, AK Khandaker, and Manzurul Ahsan Khan at a discussion on “20 years of movement for the trial of war criminals: Success and obstacles” in the city's WVA auditorium yesterday. Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the programme marking its 20th founding anniversary.Photo: STAR

Trial of political parties or organisations involved in war crimes during the 1971 War of Liberation should be held alongside that of war criminals for the sake of justice, said speakers at a discussion yesterday. Jamaat-e-Islami and other religion-based political parties should be banned immediately while expediting the ongoing war crimes trial, they demanded. Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the discussion, “20 years of movement for the trial of war criminals: Success and obstacles” in the city's WVA auditorium marking the committee's 20th founding anniversary. Addressing the discussion, the committee President Justice Ghulam Rabbani said the politics of Jamaat should be banned immediately and their office and property should be confiscated. The war crimes trial is not for some special people, he said, adding, “Why can this party (Jamaat) which went against the Liberation War, killed hundreds of people and showed loyalty towards Pakistan still be in operation? “We demand an immediate ban on religion-based political parties. We demand a ban on Jamaat and confiscation of its assets otherwise the legacy of war criminals will continue.” Alleging that the US is favouring Jamaat on the issue of war crimes trial, Shahriar Kabir, the committee's executive president, said, “Will Jamaat not be tried just because America opposes it?” BNP and Jamaat is appointing lobbyist outside the country to raise doubts over the trial and its relevant act. The government must deal with it diplomatically, he said. Urging political parties to unite on this issue, he said the grand alliance would not be able to “cling” to power in 2014 if the trial of some of the top accused is not completed within this year. Finance Minister AMA Muhith said it is tough to predict when the trial would end as it would continue till the last accused is brought to justice. “Ghulam Azam is a heinous war criminal and we want him to stay alive to face punishment,” he said, calling for a mass movement to ward off enemies of the state. Stressing the need for ensuring safety of the witnesses, Planning Minister AK Khandaker said the trial's pace must be expedited to ensure punishment of the war criminals. Communist Party of Bangladesh President Manzurul Ahsan Khan and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon spoke at the discussion.