‘Form special tribunal to try war criminals’

“I would have preferred death before hearing Mujahid make such comments that there is no war criminals in the country," said an emotional Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, wife of Dr Alim Chowdhury, who was brutally killed by Al Badr during the liberation war, at a discussion yesterday.
Supreme Court Bar Association organised the discussion titled 'Constitution of Bangladesh, spirit of our War of Liberation and trial of war criminals'.
"Cadres of Al Badr took Alim from in front of my eyes and later we found him dead at the Rayer Bazar killing ground," Shyamoli Nasrin broke down while recounting the story.
Chaired by Justice KM Sobhan, the meeting was addressed by Air Vice Marshall (retd) AK Khandaker, deputy chief of the liberation war, Barrister Amir-ul-Islam, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, Lt Col Abu Osman Chowdhury, commander of sector 8, Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Ferdousi Priyabhashini and Prof Ahsanul Haq, who managed to escape from the Pakistani camp.
Speakers at the discussion demanded the caretaker government forms special tribunals to try the war criminals. They also demanded forming of a commission that will work to collect evidences of war crimes in this regard.
They vowed to eliminate war criminals from the country through legal process.
"We will face them (war criminals and anti liberation entities) through legal battle and ensure their due punishment," AK Khandaker said.
"We urge all political parties to cut ties with Jamaat and other anti-liberation entities,” he added.
Justice KM Sobhan in his speech said the existing law is not enough to try the war criminals because it would be so hard to prove their (war criminals) misdeeds after 36 years of liberation war.
"It is the present government who will have to take initiatives to try the war criminals because this government is neutral and non-partisan," said Justice Sobhan.
He also urged the election commission not to register religion-based political parties and impose a ban on Jamaat leaders and other anti-liberation entities.
Barrister Amir-ul-Islam is his speech said, "This is the high time we tried the war criminals and we have enough reasons in favor of this."
He urged the government to form a commission that will investigate and collect information on war criminals.
Shahriar Kabir in his speech said, “Nizami and Mujahid are self-proclaimed and identified war criminals.
"We need not go outside to prove them war criminals, mouthpiece of Jamaat (the daily Sangram) is enough to prove that they are war criminals, " he added.
He also alleged that there are sympathizers inside the caretaker government.