Anti-war trial factors get the better of BNP

BNP leaders remain confused about the party's stance on trial of war criminals after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia remarked that the government is trying to use the issue against the opposition.
Some BNP leaders, encouraged by grassroots activists and young leaders, felt that the process of trying war criminals should continue, if done fairly.
But they received a jolt following the party president's observation that stemmed from constant pressure by some controversial leaders of BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
Khaleda's comment came at a meeting of BNP national standing committee on April 1 at her Gulshan office. The remark was inspired by a few BNP leaders strongly opposing the government move to try war criminals, party insiders said.
Some influential leaders of BNP and Jamaat, many of whose leaders were allegedly involved in 1971 war crimes, are trying to persuade BNP policymakers to take a clear stance against the trial of war criminals.
Besides, a number of BNP leaders including a standing committee member were allegedly involved in war crimes.
Some senior BNP leaders, who are close to Jamaat, have already sat with Jamaat leaders several times to find out a way to face the issue politically.
A few of them also called on Khaleda to discuss the matter. But no BNP leader agreed to make any comment.
However, some BNP leaders said they are in favour of trying the "real" war criminals but they believe that the government will use the issue to achieve "political gains". Now they want to deal with the matter politically.
When the issue came up for discussion at the standing committee meeting, some leaders including Salauddin Quader Chowdhury proposed taking a firm stance against the government move to try war criminals.
Khaleda commented that the government will suppress the opposition in the name of trying war criminals, sources said.
Hearing the chairperson's remark, some BNP leaders, in favour of a "fair" trial of war criminals, remained silent.
On April 2, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the ruling party would eliminate political opponents in the name of trying war criminals.
He said BNP has no objection to trying anyone who committed such crimes. But there is no need to form a special court or an investigation team, or even bringing any amendment to the existing laws for the purpose.
The government on March 25 announced formation of the tribunal, investigation agency and prosecution team for trying war criminals.
Commenting on their stance on trial of war criminals, BNP Standing Committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said, "We are discussing the issue. The government move to try war criminals is aimed at achieving political gains as the ministers sometimes term it trial for war crimes and at times crimes against humanity."
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party's standing committee had discussions to devise a strategy on the serious issue.