Turkish president's request condemned
Social and cultural organisations yesterday strongly condemned Turkish President Abdullah Gul's recent letter to President Zillur Rahman calling for “clemency†to the accused under trial in the International Crimes Tribunal for the “sake of peace in the societyâ€.
The organisations demanded quick completion of the trial of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
Meanwhile, asked to comment on the letter, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, at the Trust Bank 12th National Senior and Junior Taekwondo Championship in the capital's National Sports Council Gymnasium, invited journalists to her ministry tomorrow, reports UNB.
Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee President Justice Muhammad Ghulam Rabbani, President-in-Charge Shahriar Kabir and General Secretary Kazi Mukul issued a joint statement.
They said the Turkish president's request interfered with Bangladesh's internal affairs, went against diplomatic norms, was a blow to Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty, and was similar to siding with those who committed genocides in 1971.
The Turkish president should remember that Turkey committed the world's first genocide in the last century by killing 15 lakh Armenians from 1919 to 1921. No trial was held and Turkey is still killing Kurds without any trial, they said.
Another statement was issued by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi President Kamal Lohani and General Secretary Prabir Sardar, stating that the request was a shameless expression of a conspiracy to foil the war crimes trial.
Workers' Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon, at a party meeting in the capital's Shaheed Asad Auditorium, said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's ongoing movement's main target was to save the war criminals.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote leaders, at a rally organised in Jatiya Press Club to congratulate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the UN acceptance of her peace model, said Bangladeshis would try Khaleda once for assisting the war criminals.
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