Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta yesterday asked his government to restrain Bangladesh Chhatra League from the misdeeds it is doing and improve law and order.
In presence of some senior ministers and Awami League leaders, he said the government should start trial of war criminals instead of just talking about it.
"Delivering speeches will not be enough. Moves must be made to hold the trials... Appoint prosecutors and investigation-agency officials immediately to start the trial," said Suranjit while addressing a discussion at Institution of Engineers' Bangladesh in the capital.
Awami League organised the discussion to mark the 90th birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day with its Presidium member Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser in the chair.
Suranjit, a member of the Awami League advisory council, asked the Awami League leaders and ministers to solve the problems of the people and fulfil their hopes and dreams, as they voted the party to power with this expectation.
He told the ministers, "As long as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in office, looting in the name of democracy will not be allowed, price hike of essentials through price manipulation and hoarding will not be allowed. Every commitment made in the election manifesto has to be fulfilled."
Suranjit said the Awami League workers like him would help the government live up to its election pledges.
Senior Awami League leaders and ministers alleged that the BNP-led opposition have been conspiring to destabilise the country and hinder the trials.
Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the trials would be held in this country. He said a certain quarter is questioning as to why there now is a need to hold the trial of war criminals when prices of essentials are high, there is a huge power crisis in the country and law and order is deteriorating.
"They are making this kind of statements to divert public attention. We will hold the trials at any cost."
Awami League Presidium member Abdul Latif Siddique said, "The weaknesses and divisions, which we have within our party, must be removed to build Digital Bangladesh and try the defeated forces."
Awami League leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Abdur Razzaque, Yafesh Osman, Ahmad Hossain, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, MA Aziz and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya also spoke on the occasion.
SAJEDA ACTING AL CHIEF
Awami League Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will act as president of the party until Sheikh Hasina returns home from China on March 21, said an Awami League press release.