Academics hit out at those demanding trial

Virtually defending the war criminals, a group of professionals yesterday strongly criticised the organisations and political parties who are demanding trial of war criminals and a ban on religion-based politics.
Those who are making such demands are actually trying to foil the upcoming election and conspire against independence and sovereignty of the country, they said at a roundtable and called for punitive action against them.
The University Study Forum organised the roundtable titled 'Current political situation of Bangladesh and our duties' at the National Press Club in the city.
Dr Nesar Uddin Ahmed, a professor of Bangladesh Islamic University, said those who are now demanding trial of war criminals have always found fundamentalism in every sphere of society.
They have come up with some agendas such as foiling the election, assuming power in a different way and erasing the border as well, he added.
Rezwan Siddique, former director general of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), said the Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general made the correct remark that there are no war criminals in the country.
"Who we will identify as the war criminals when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had granted general amnesty to them," he said, adding that the issue is being raised once again in a bid to create confusion among the people as part of a conspiracy against the country.
He also criticised the chief election commissioner for his remarks about the war criminals.
Prof Mahbubul Islam, dean of faculty of law of Bangladesh Islamic University, said the demand for a ban on religion-based politics is illegal and a punishable crime.
Presiding over the roundtable, Dr Mahbub Ullah, a professor of development studies department of Dhaka University, said that in a democratic country, the religion-based political parties have the same right as other political parties.
Prof Dr M Yusuf Ali, vice-chancellor of Green University, Prof Dr Korban Ali, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Islamic University, Mir Kamal Chowdhury, a professor of Asian University of Bangladesh, Manirul Islam, assistant editor of monthly Chintabhabna, Gias Kamal Chowdhury, editor of the Khabar Patra, Prof Fazlul Haque and columnist Sadek Khan also spoke.