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Form special tribunal to try war criminals

Demand lawmakers

Staff Correspondent
The lawmakers who defeated anti-liberation forces in the December 29 parliamentary elections yesterday called for forming a special tribunal imme -diately to try war criminals.
During the election, the entire nation got united in the demand for trial of war criminals, said lawmaker Shamsul Haque Tuku, who defeated Jamaat-e-lslami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami in the election.
"I was not aware of such a campaign against war criminals in my constituency in Pabna. Students and teachers of universities and cultural activists spearheaded the campaign urging the people to boycott war criminals in the election," he said at a reception ceremony.
Forum for Secular Bangladesh accorded a reception to 38 lawmakers, who defeated the anti-liberation forces in the election, at Supreme Court Bar Association audi torium in the city.
Five ministers, including Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Home Minister Sahara Khatun, who attended the programme, assured them that the trial of war criminals must be held in the soil of Bangladesh without delay.
Speakers at the programme said the government should not waste any time trying to involve the UN in the process, as the trial can be held under the existing laws.
"The trial of war criminals,
a long-standing demand of the people, has been one of the election pledges of AL-led grand alliance. Now it has become a national commitment following the election," said Dipu Moni.
The speakers urged the government to induct lawmakers who defeated war criminals into the cabinet
They also said that women and fresh voters have played an important role in the election with a view to bringing about a change in the country.
"War criminals can be tried under the existing laws. So, there is no need to delay the process of trial in the name of involving the United Nations," said Prof Kabir Chowdhury.
Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain observed that creating employment opportunities to a great extent can prevent the rise of militancy in the country.
"Trying war criminals will be the first step to eliminate militancy from the country," said Mosharraf. who defeated Jarnaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid in the election.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, who defeated Maulana Habibur Rahman in the election, stressed the need for quality education to raise awareness among the people.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud called on all to become aware of those patronising the war criminals.
Health MinisterAFM Ruhul Haque and Mahila Parishad leader Ayesha Khatun also spoke at the programme moderated by journalist and writer Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Forum for Secular Bangladesh.