The trial of war criminals should be held for the sake of establishing justice in the country, not for taking revenge, noted historians said at a discussion yesterday.

“It's a shame that we could not try them after so many years of liberation. It's our collective failure", said Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University Dr Serajul Islam Chowdhury.

“How could we establish justice in the country—by trying 'criminals for petty offences' and 'setting war criminals free’?" he asked.

At the discussion, “Spirit of Liberation War, trial ofwar criminals and future Bangladesh”, speakers blamed selfish manners of politicians for the depletion of Liberation War spirit.

Prof Serajul Islam said personal, class, and party interests led to the failure in establishing the spirit of independence. “The country’s political parties compete with each other to give in to imperialism, not to solve the problems of the people".

National Professor Dr Salahuddin Ahmed said the military governments, who ruled the county about 20 years, wanted to militarise and transform Bangladesh in line with Pakistani and Islamic spirit. “Ziaur Rahman introduced such practice in the country”.

Noted educationist Prof Dr Ajoy Roy, convener of Samprodayekata-Jangibad Birodhi Mancha (anti-communalism and antimilitancy platform), organiser of the discussion at Liberation War Museum, doubted if the incumbent government could complete of the trial within its tenure.

Member secretary of the platform, Nur Mohammad, urged the prime minister and the home minister to identify some agents in local administration, who were cooperating religious fundamentalists in their attempt to foil the trial by creating anarchy in the country.