No place for the cohorts of 1971 defeated forces

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday hinted that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would have to face trial one day for “patronising” war criminals, including the executed ones. 

"It hurts us that the cohorts of anti-liberation forces still dream of Pakistan despite living in Bangladesh. They couldn't yet forget their 'Pyare Pakistan' [Beloved Pakistan],” she said.

”There'll be no existence of the cohorts of the defeated forces in Bangladesh," she warned.

The PM alleged that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman had first patronized the war criminals and rehabilitated them in state power.

According to Hasina, Khaleda then followed “the path of her husband” after assuming power.

The BNP chief handed over the national flag stained with the blood of millions of martyrs to the war criminals by making them ministers, she further alleged.

Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, was addressing a discussion marking the 45th Victory Day at Krishibid Institution auditorium in the capital.