Cultural activists for quick trial of war crimes

Political leaders and cultural activists yesterday urged the government to intensify the process of trying war criminals to help the nation get rid of a stigma.
The discussants also said people of the country are eagerly waiting to see the due punishment of people who committed crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation in 1971.
They said this while attending a rally of children and teenagers and a cultural programme at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the city.
Kendrio Khelaghar Asar, an organisation for children, arranged the programme as part of its similar functions countrywide to form a social movement against the war criminals as well as to urge the government to intensify the trial process.
Fearing anti-liberation forces' conspiracy to foil the process of trying war criminals, the speakers said a social movement should be formed, involving people of all ages and sections, to resist any kind of conspiracy by the anti-liberation forces.
Inaugurating the programme, Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury said the trial of people who committed crimes against humanity on this land during the War of Liberation would be completed.
Reading out the declaration paper of the programme, Khelaghar's advisory board member Prof Nirjonjan Adhikari thanked the government for initiating the process of trying war criminals and demanded strengthening of the process.
Speaking as the chief guest, Home Minister Sahara Khatun said the government is committed to try the war criminals. She said the investigation on war crimes and framing of charge sheet is underway.
The minister said the nation would get rid of a stigma by trying the war criminals.
Children of Khelaghar staged a token killing of intellectuals by the anti-liberation forces-- Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams -- during the war of liberation and a hanging of criminals who committed the crimes in the programme.
Cultural activists also sang various songs on the War of Liberation during the programme.
Chairman of advisory board of Khelaghar Prof Panna Kaiser presided over the programme.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi President Golam Mohammad Idu, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote General Secretary Hasan Arif, Vice President Golam Kuddus and Workers Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Anisur Rahman Mallik spoke on the occasion.