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Download PDF Several hundred students and teachers of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday expressed solidarity with the demand of trial of war criminals.
The students and teachers attending a discussion at Teachers and Students Centre (TSC) took a vow to resist the anti-Liberation War elements and war criminals.
They also expressed their commitment to work with Sector Commanders Forum and build opinion against the war criminals and anti-Liberation War forces among students and teachers of other universities.
The discussion titled ‘International Crime and Trial’ was organised by the students and teachers of DU.
Leaders of the Sector Commanders Forum addressing a packed audience at the TSC auditorium said the nation is united in seeking the trial of the war criminals.
They urged all to boycott the anti-Liberation War elements and the war criminals socially and refrain from establishing any relations with them.
Dr Mizanur Rahman, Prof of Dhaka University, presided the meeting where Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker Bir Uttam, deputy chief of the Liberation War and president of Sector Commanders Forum, Justice Ghulam Rabbani, former army chief Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah Bir Uttam, Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-ar-Rashid Bir Protik, Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, assistant professor of Dhaka University, also spoke.
Dr Shah Alam, professor of Chittagong University, presented the keynote paper.
Responding to a question, Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker Bir Uttam said then president Ziaur Rahman will have to be held accountable for the killings of two war heroes — Col Taher and Maj Gen Khaled Mosharraf.
“He [Ziaur Rahman] cannot avoid the responsibility for killing two sector commanders of the Liberation War as they were killed during his tenure,” said the deputy chief of the Liberation War.
The war heroes’ call to boycott the anti-Liberation War elements socially was greeted with thunderous applause from the audience.
The country has turned into a failed state as it failed to bring the war criminals to justice, the war veteran also said.
Special guest Justice Ghulam Rabbani said the entire nation is united in demanding trial of the war criminals. “The trial of war criminals is a must for ensuring justice in the society,” he added.
“The government must show respect to public opinion as 90 percent of them support the trial of war criminals,” he said.
Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah Bir Uttam said the state must take the initiative for trying the war criminals.
The previous governments did not take the initiative due to lack of political will, he also said.
Dr Shah Alam in his keynote speech said, “Militancy and religious fundamentalism escalated in the country as we failed to bring the war criminals to justice.”
There are sufficient laws to try the war criminals and they can be tried under International War Crimes (Tribunal) Act as well, he added.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
let the awami leaguers speak out why the war criminals were not tried.it was 400+ then the no was brought down to 190+. there is record that the indian army opposed the trial of war criminals on the ground that one army does not support the trial of another army personnels.it it is very clear the indian army took millions of dollars from ISI MADE THIS OPPOSSITION.it is inthe documents pls find out .dont talk big n fool the public.