'Trial to be completed within govt's tenure'

Planning Minister AK Khandker yesterday said that he hopes the trial of war criminals would be completed within the tenure of this government.
The government is firmly committed to bring the war criminals to book, he said at a roundtable at the National Press Club in the city. Peshajibi Samannay Parishad organised the roundtable on 'Trial of War Criminals: National Duty'.
Speaking as the chief guest, the minister said the government has all necessary support from the international community to conduct the trial of war criminals.
AK Khandaker, who was the deputy commander-in-chief during the liberation war, said, "We have got support from the United Nations, human rights organisations and European missions in Dhaka. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also said that they will not interfere in the trial since it is our internal matter."
He also said the war criminals and their supporters are trying to foil the trial by making an issue out of power, water and gas crisis.
He urged all to provide evidence of war crimes to the investigation agency to help probe the war crimes.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak was present as the special guest.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Prof Muntasir Mamun, co-convener of Peshajibi Samannay Parishad Prof SM Nazrul Islam and journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury also spoke.