Jamaat, BNP sing same tune on war crimes trial

Political parties that support war criminals and their organisations have no right to be in politics in the country, leaders of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee said yesterday

When it comes to the war crimes trial, both BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have similar political positions, they said.

Addressing a discussion on the occasion of the committee's 23rd founding anniversary in the capital's Women's Voluntary Association auditorium, they demanded banning of Jamaat and likeminded political parties as soon as possible.

Noted historian Prof Muntassir Mamoon said there was no difference between BNP and Jamaat. “It would be of no use going after only one of the two parties in question.” As they are supporters of war criminals, there can be no dialogue with either of them, he said.

Acting president of the anti-war crimes platform, Shahriar Kabir, thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her "unwavering commitment" to bring war criminals to justice.

“Sheikh Hasina's support and courageous decisions have made it possible to realise Jahanara Imam's dream of seeing war criminals punished,” he said. “There is no alternative to Hasina's leadership to continue the trial for the crimes against humanity.”

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim said Jamaat worked as the paramilitary force of the Pakistani army during the Liberation War. “As an associate of the defeated army, Jamaat should be banned immediately.”

Presided over by former High Court judge Syed Amirul Islam, the committee adviser Prof Borhanuddin Khan Jahangir, freedom fighter and cultural activist Ferdousi Priyobhashini, and lawmaker Amena Ahmed, among others, spoke at the event.