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Trial of war criminals must ; for democracy

Freedom fighters say

Staff Correspondent
Trial of war criminals is a must, not just drive against corruption, to | ensure justice and democratic rule in the country, speakers said at a reception given to freedom fighters yesterday.
They said it is unfortunate that the state has so far failed to bring to | justice the war criminals who worked against the birth of the country and killed freedom fighters, the best sons of the soil.
Bangladesh Muktijoddha Nou I Commando Association organised the reception at the Jatiya Press Club in the city where twenty-five freedom fighters and dignitaries were accorded reception for their valiant role during the Liberation War.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, Air Vice Marshal (retd) and deputy' chief of the liberation
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forces AK Khandker said, "This country' is an unsuccessful state as it has failed to try the war criminals so far."
Khandker, also president of the Sector Commanders Forum, urged the present caretaker government to form special tribunal and start the process of trying the war criminals without delay.
He strongly demanded banning of political activities of those parties that acted as auxiliary' to the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.
"The next election would not be free and fair if the war criminals and anti-liberation elements are not barred from taking part in it," the war veteran observed. He said they had taken the vow to win in the "battle" of bringing the war criminals to justice.
Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, said the government must recognise the nation's demand for the trial of the war criminals.
No one would blame this government if it cannot end the process of trying the war criminals, he added, stressing the need for start-ingthetrial.
Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ar-Rashid, chief coordinator of Sector Commanders Forum, expressed surprise that the war criminals and anti-liberation elements dare to speak against the country's Liberation War even when freedom fighters are still alive.
"We have got honour and independence at the cost of lives of freedom fighters but we could not yet bring the war criminals to justice even after long 37 years of independence," he said.
The 25 freedom fighters and dignitaries given reception are Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Col (retd) Shawkat Ali, Shahriar Kabir, Gazi Muhammad Rahmatullah, martyred subedar Ihas Khan, Dr ABM Zafar Ullah, Joynal Abedin. Golam Kuddus, Advocate Habibur Rahman Shawkat, Muhammad Ali Chowdhury Mangai, Advocate Dhali Moazzem Hossain, Abir Ahad, Prof Momtaz Begum. Dr Makhduma Nargis. Farida Khanam Saki, Fazlul Haq. Borhan Uddin Ahmed, Jagadish Chandra Biswas, Taher Hossain Bhuiyan, Gazi Muhammad Delwar Hossain, Ahmed Ullah, Abdur Rahim, Mofizuddin, Selim Bhuiyan and Abdul Kadir
The programme was presided over by Shajahan Kabir, president of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Nou Commando Association.