TUI RAZAKAR: তুই রাজাকার

 Compiled : Habib

Civil society members and political leaders at a discussion yesterday demanded a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, saying that it had opposed the Liberation War and its constitution is inconsistent with the country’s constitution.

They also called on the caretaker government to bring the war criminals to justice.

They also vowed to resist all anti-liberation elements and boycott them socially.

Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee or ‘Forum for Secular Bangladesh’ organised the discussion at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium to mark its 16th founding anniversary.

Speaking at the discussion, Prof Kabir Chowdhury, president, advisory council of the Forum, called on the government to take steps to try the war criminals in a special tribunal.

It would not be possible to hold the election in a free and fair atmosphere unless the war criminals are tried, he said.

“This is the high time to try the war criminals as the entire nation is united in support of the trial,” said Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam.

Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak said all political parties, including AL and BNP, are also united in the demand for the trial of war criminals.

“If they (war criminals) are brought to book, most political problems will be resolved,” he added.

Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the Forum, said war criminals have to be tried in order to make democracy more meaningful.

Prof Ajay Roy, president, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minority, Manjurul Ahsan Khan, president, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Rashed Khan Menon, president, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Hasanul Haq Inu, president, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, convener, Peshajibi Samannaya Parishad, Ferdousi Priyabhashini, vice-president, Forum for Secular Bangladesh, and Shahid Reza Nur, president, Projanmo ‘71, also spoke.

The Daily Star, 25 January,2008