Try war criminals to establish justice

The trial of war criminals must be held in order to establish justice in society, said speakers at a book launching ceremony yesterday.
They also added that the war criminals must not be spared as they committed the most heinous crimes.
The book titled '10 Killing Grounds of Mirpur' by Miraj Miju, a young organiser of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, was launched at Bilia auditorium in the city.
The investigative book is based on 10 killing grounds at Mirpur where the anti-liberation forces, including the Biharis, tortured and slaughtered innocent Bangalees and freedom fighters.
Presided over by Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the Nirmul Committee, the meeting was addressed by Justice Ghulam Rabbani, Sector Commander Lt Col (retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, Prof Muntasir Mamun, vice-president of Nirmul Committee, Dr MA Hasan, convener of War Crimes Facts Finding Committee, and Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, wife of martyred intellectual Dr Alim Chowdhury.
Two eyewitnesses of the mass killing -- Shariqul Islam Bablu and Sakhina Helal -- also shared their experiences at the programme.
"We will have to eliminate anti-liberation elements from society," said Justice Rabbani.
Abu Osman said democracy and development will not be ensured unless war criminals are brought to book.
Appreciating the book, Prof Muntasir Mamun urged all to mobilise public support for the trial of war criminals.
"We are demanding trial of war criminals, not out of vengeance, but to establish justice in society," said Dr Hasan.
Shyamoli Nasrin said, "Our greatest joy is that we won the liberation war; and our greatest tragedy is that we are yet to bring the war criminals to justice."
"A group of Biharis took me to a killing ground and held a knife against my neck, but could not kill me as it was not sharp enough to cut my throat," said Bablu while sharing his experience.
"Then they tortured me severely and left me behind on the killing ground. It is a miracle that I am still alive," he added.