Speed up war crimes trial

Sector Commanders' Forum (SCF) leaders yesterday reiterated their call on the government to speed up the trial of the war criminals who committed “brutal” crimes against humanity during the country's liberation war.
The crimes the war criminals committed are unprecedented in the history and that they should be tried on the soil of this land, they said.
Their call coincides with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's speech at a public gathering in Satkhira yesterday that the trial of war criminals will start in a few days and the offenders would be brought to justice.
The Forum leaders were speaking at a discussion meeting at Tangail Coronation Dramatic Club auditorium organised by its Tangail district unit.
“It isn't a matter of hostility or avenge. They should be tried for their inhuman crimes,” said Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah, also senior vice-chairman of the Sector Commanders' Forum.
“We urge the government to speed up the trial and complete the trial of some identified war criminals within the tenure of the government,” said Planning Minister AK Khandaker, also the chairman of the Forum, who was the chief guest.
The government on March 25 this year declared formation of a three-member international crimes tribunal, a seven-member investigation agency and a 12-member prosecution team for trying those who committed crimes against humanity during the war in 1971.
Maj Gen (retd) M Masudur Rahman, organising secretary of the Forum, Lt Col (retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, vice-chairman and Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-or-Rashid, general secretary, among others, were present at the programme.