'Form probe agency for war crimes trial'

Planning Minister AK Khandaker inaugurates the four-day victory festival organised by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR

Cultural activists yesterday demanded the government form a separate investigation agency within this month in order to start the trial of war criminals but the government, however, is not sure whether it would be set this month.
“I support the demand but I am not sure whether it could be set up this month or not,” said Planning Minister AK Khandaker.
He told reporters after inaugurating the victory festival of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote (SSJ) at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city.
He said, “The government is committed to trying the war criminals and they will start the trial very soon,” adding: “The war criminals should be tried to make the nation free from black spots.”
Earlier, the minister, also the deputy commander-in-chief of the liberation war, inaugurated the four-day victory festival organised by SSJ at different venues of the city.
SSJ President Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu said the government should form an investigation agency within this month because the freedom fighters, mothers, wives and sons of the martyrs of the liberation war want to see the trial of war criminals.
Noted theatre personality Ramendu Majumder, lawmaker and Awami League leader Asaduzzaman Noor and Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation General Secretary Jhuna Chowdhury spoke at the function.
Noor said the countrymen now want to see the trial of war criminals and the execution of the verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case.
He called on all to be aware of the conspiracies hatched by the anti-liberation forces as they are still conspiring against the country.
Ramendu Majumder said the government's duty would be to try the war criminals and killers of the intellectual martyrs.
He urged the government to establish good governance and remove corruption from the state machinery.
Jhuna delivered her address of welcome at the event.
Later, the SSJ activists performed in a cultural function.