AL for legal steps against Jamaat leaders for war crimes

Awami League (AL) yesterday strongly demanded the caretaker government take legal measurers against the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami who repressed women during the Liberation War and made insolent comments over the nation's war of liberation.
At a meeting of the party's central working committee (ALCWC), the AL also demanded the government and the Election Commission (EC) take measurers so that the war criminals and Jamaat-e-Islami, "abuser of holy Islam for political gains", cannot register with the EC and take part in the upcoming elections.
The AL held the meeting at detained party President Sheikh Hasina's political office at Dhanmondi in the capital to review AL's draft proposal for electoral reforms. The proposal was finalised on Wednesday by a 21-member committee headed by AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed.
The draft electoral reforms proposal, to be placed at AL's dialogue with the EC on November 4, was approved unanimously by the ALCWC yesterday.
Chaired by Acting AL President Zillur Rahman, ALCWC, the highest policy-making body of the party, decided that it would strongly ask the EC during the November 4 talks to ensure a congenial atmosphere during the elections by freeing the detained AL President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, General Secretary Abdul Jalil and other detained party leaders.
A total of 12 ALCWC members including the party president, general secretary and three presidium members are currently under detention.
The meeting came down heavily on the remarks made by Jamaat leaders and sympathisers demeaning the nation's most glorious achievement -- the Liberation War.
Briefing journalists following the meeting, Zillur Rahman said the party agrees to most of the conditions on the electoral reforms draft proposal prepared by the EC except for a few, to which the party would object during the dialogue on November 4.
The objectionable conditions on the EC proposal deemed controlling and the party would place alternative proposals against those conditions, he said.
Sources said during the dialogue with the EC, AL would seek to exclude the army from the definition of "regular law enforcement agencies" mentioned on the EC proposal.
Over the EC's proposal to elect committees in secret ballots, the final proposal of the AL said that the committees would be elected in a democratic process through holding of elections.
The ALCWC approved the condition on the EC proposal that requires a nomination seeker from a political party to be a member of the particular party for at least three years.
The party also accepted the EC's proposal for nominating party candidates for contesting elections on recommendations from grassroots level leaders.
The AL agreed in principle to ensure 33 percent women representation in all committees of a political party. The party, however, observed that the political parties would not be able to meet this requirement right now and therefore, the EC should make the condition flexible, not mandatory.
The ALCWC hoped that the separation and independence of judiciary, a step that was long overdue, would fulfil the nation's dream for justice for all.
"Besides independence, accountability is also needed to ensure an independent judiciary bears fruit," Zillur said.
He also demanded that trial of the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman be completed swiftly and the sentence carried out.
The meeting demanded that the government take urgent steps to free Sheikh Hasina and withdraw all "false and fabricated" charges against her. It also called for the release of the party general secretary and other leaders and workers.
The ALCWC decided to continue the legal efforts to free Hasina, who has been detained since July 16 on extortion charges. It also urged the government to withdraw the "false" case and warrant of arrest against Sheikh Rehana, Hasina's sister.
The meeting called for complete withdrawal of the ban on indoor politics and immediate lifting of the state of emergency.
It also urged the government to ensure reasonable price of essentials and sufficient supply of fertilisers.