'Conspiracies on to foil trial of war criminals'
Speakers at a discussion yesterday said a vested quarter is hatching conspiracies against the country to create a bar to or delay in the trial of war criminals and the BDR carnage was also a part of the plots.
War criminals should immediately be tried to stamp out religious fundamentalism in the country as well as to stop the repetition of incidents like BDR massacre, they added.
The discussion on 'Trial of the war criminals and relevant situation' was organised by Combined Citizens' Movement at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) auditorium in the city.
The speakers thanked the government for taking an initiative of trying war criminals by setting up a special tribunal.
Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak said anti-liberation war forces are hatching conspiracies against the country to delay the trial of war criminals.
“I think the BDR carnage is the first step of conspiracy which took place at a time when the trial process had just began,” he added.
The AL leader hoped that the government would soon form a special tribunal and committee to investigate war crimes.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader said, “We have to try the war criminals whatever impediments come to our way. If we try them transparently, no one would be able to say anything about it,” adding that if the existing law is not enough for the trial, new laws could be passed.
“We have to finish the trial process for the sake of humanity and world peace,” the minister said.
Journalist Shahriar Kabir said, “We have enough laws in the country to try the war criminals. So, we don't need to seek the help of the United Nations.”
“We need international support for the trial and the government should strengthen its diplomatic war for that,” he added.
Shahriar, who lost his brother during the liberation war in 1971, further said that the criminals should be tried if we want to root out religious fundamentalism.
With journalist Abed Khan in the chair, the discussion was also addressed by Chief Coordinator of Sector Commanders' Forum Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ur Rashid and Workers' Party of Bangladesh leader Fazle Hossain Badsha.
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