Simla pact discussed on second day

The second day of the International Conference on Bangladesh Genocide and Justice was marked by discussions on trials of 195 Pakistani war criminals, who were released under the Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan in 1972.

Replying to a question from the audience in the second session on "Memory, Justice and Media : Role of International Community in Promoting Justice", panellists, including scholars and parliamentary members from Europe and South America, said Bangladesh has to create pressure on the international community to bring the Pakistani war criminals to book.

The Liberation War Museum organised the conference in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.

Other sessions included Crimes of Sexual Violence and Remedies for Survivors, a judges' panel on their experiences gathered while conducting war crimes tribunals, and Role of Art and Research in Confronting Genocide.

A research paper on Bangladeshi refugees at Indian camps, prepared by Nazmul Islam, Rutgers University, USA, and Kaustabh Adhikari, University College of London, UK, was presented by Nafisa Tanzim. The conference will end today with discussions on prevention of genocide.