Leaders of Sector Commanders Forum and Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad yesterday urged the government not to nominate any war criminals for key posts in parliament.

In separate statements the leaders of the two organisations said the first session of the ninth parliament would be held on January 25 and as per the prime minister's commitment, an MP from the opposition bench would be made deputy speaker.

They claimed that a number of the war criminals have been elected lawmakers in the 9th parliamentary elections and the prime minister should be cautious in nominating candidates for posts like the deputy speaker and presidents of parliamentary standing committees.

The leaders said when the government is taking steps to bring the war criminals under trial, an identified war criminal's obtaining an important post in parliament would seriously undermine the government's initiatives.

Signatories to the Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad statement among others were its Member Secretary Mohammad Shahjahan Kabir Bir Pratik, Secretary General of Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad Abdus Samad Pintu, Secretary General of Muktijoddha Nou Commando Association Mohammad Kholilur Rahman, Chairman of Muktijoddha Sangsad Kendriya Command Council Mohammad Ali Chowdhury, General Secretary of Mahila Muktijoddha Sangsad Makhduma Nargis.