Mainul's comments on trial of war criminals draw flak

Freedom fighters, political leaders and members of civic groups at home and abroad yesterday fiercely criticised Law Adviser Mainul Hosein's comment on trial of war criminals saying that the adviser is trying to brush aside the issue by terming it 'old matter' when there is a consensus on their punishment.
Senior Awami League (AL) leader Suranjit Sengupta said Mainul Hosein himself couldn't avoid the responsibility for not holding trial of the war criminals in the past as he was also among the lawmakers who voted for the 1973 constitutional amendment granting general amnesty for the people against the liberation of Bangladesh.
On Sunday, Mainul said question should be raised whether those who had been in power during the last 36 years should be punished for not taking any initiative for the trial of war criminals.
War Crimes Facts Finding Committee (WCFFC), Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad, Islamic Front Bangladesh and Bangladesh Muktijoddha Ainjibi Parishad issued separate statements criticising the law adviser's comment while expatriate Bangladeshis in New York held a rally demanding trial of war criminals.
"Barrister Mainul Hosein can't avoid the responsibility regarding this issue because he was part of the government in 1973," Suranjit told reporters at his residence yesterday.
"When the whole nation is in agreement on the trial of war criminals, only one adviser is making excuses terming the matter an old mess," he said adding, "I hope we will go forward resolving the problem -- not avoiding any issue."
"If the government can clamp down on corruption suspects, why not on suspected war criminals?" wondered Suranjit.
MA Hasan, convenor of WCFFC, in a statement said political governments in the last 36 years did not take any initiative for the trial of war criminals, but that does not justify inaction on the issue by the present government.
"The present government is committed to establishing good governance and justice in the society by wiping out the garbage of last 36 years through various reforms," he said.
"When this government has been forming a number of commissions as part of its reform plans, it is not clear to the people why it would be so difficult to form a special tribunal and commission on genocide and war crimes of 1971," the statement said.
Referring to the trial of war criminals in Cambodia where the crimes were committed 23 years ago, MA Hasan said, "…what is the problem in doing so in Bangladesh?"
Trial of war criminals is the people's right and it is their government's obligation, the WCFFC statement said.
MA Hasan asked the government to follow the model of Genocide Tribunal of Cambodia and begin the trial of frontline war criminals. "Next governments will follow the present government's initiative," he added.
Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad leaders in a statement asked the government to oust Mainul Hosein from the council of advisers of the caretaker government saying that the law adviser echoed with the voices of the war criminals.
Oikya Parishad leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Col (retd) Shawkat Ali and its member secretary Shahjahan Kabir signed the statement among others.
Meanwhile, expatriate Bangladeshis held a rally in New York on Sunday where speakers urged to collect documents on 1971 war crimes from the United Nations and consult with international legal experts to find ways for trial of war criminals in the International Court.
Swadhinata Chetona Mancha, a forum of Bangladeshis in New York, organised the rally. The forum also extended its support to the movement of Sector Commanders and Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee for trial of war criminals.