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Download PDF Heroes of the Liberation War under the banner of Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) yesterday said the war criminals played a role in the government’s decision denying SCF the permission to hold their national convention
The SCF blasted the government as the decision would benefit the war criminals.
This is for the second time the SCF had to postpone their national convention due to the government’s refusal of permission over concern for deterioration of law and order situation.
Following the postponement of the SCF national convention that was scheduled for today, the war heroes at a packed press conference at the National Press Club warned saying that the government will be held responsible if any untoward situation arises following the government’s recurring refusal.
The SCF leaders said they would seek the government’s permission again for the national convention within this month.
Those who are more powerful than the chief adviser, the Army chief and the chief election commissioner did not let them hold the national convention, they said.
Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, president of SCF and deputy chief of the Liberation War forces, said their intension was to mobilise public support for the trial of the war criminals through holding the national convention.
But the government denied them permission at the eleventh hour of the convention over law and order concerns, which is totally unacceptable and illogical, he added.
On Thursday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner at a press conference said although the nature of the SCF programme mentioned in the application was cultural, it was not mentioned in SCF invitation cards.
Rebutting the DMP commissioner’s comment, AK Khandker asked if it is a crime not to mention about a cultural programme in the invitation cards.
The SCF exchanged views with about a hundred organisations in the capital on the issue of trying the war criminals and no unpleasant incidents occurred, he added.
The decision of the government has benefited a particular political party (Jamaat-e-Islami) that had no right to exercise politics in the country, said the war veteran.
Lt Gen (retd) Mir Shawkat Ali said the SCF was inspired to hold the national convention as the chief adviser, the army chief and the CEC spoke against the war criminals and made speeches in favour of their trial.
The government will have to recognise their real friends, he added.
“We all are veteran freedom fighters. Those who think we will destroy the country are mad and should go to Pabna Mental Hospital,” said the war hero.
Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah said the ones who are now in the government would not exist if the freedom fighters of the Liberation War did not exist.
Lt Gen retd M Harun-ar-Rashid, chief coordinator of the SCF, said if the government repeatedly denies the permission for the convention, they will not be responsible for any untoward situation.
Maj Gen retd CR Dutta, Lt Col retd Abu Osman Chowdhury, Dr MA Hasan and a number of freedom fighters were present at the briefing.
Meanwhile, several social and political organisations from home and abroad including Workers Party of Bangladesh, Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee yesterday criticised the government for not giving SCF the permission to hold the national convention.
March 15th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Shame ,shame , great shame for the people who created impediment for the grand conference of freedom fighters scheduled to be organised by the sector commanders forum.In free Bangladesh freedom fighters are not required to get permission to hold rallies of freedom fighters.This is our country .We fought to liberate it.Many of our friends laid down their lives.Many of our sisters got violated, many are still leading miserable lives. We did not fight to create happy hunting grounds for war criminals , anti liberation forces and their beneficiaries. By acting like this the Care Taker Government has cleared its intention to side with the War Criminals. So no compromise .Freedom fighters must first reconsolidate themselves. In 1971 99.99 % people were freedom fighters in some form or pther.Now the anti liberation forces have grown in some proportion.It has become very difficult to identify now.They have infiltrated everywhere.So we have to be very careful.They may try to create division among us. We have to take new oath to root out them by any means.
Go ahead freedom fighters in Bangladesh, abroad let us fight again to free our country of dream from these evil force.