Bangladesh News

Sector Commanders’ Forum (SCF) yesterday warned the government that there would be serious repercussions if the persons responsible for the recent assault on a freedom fighter are not brought to trial immediately.

SCF, a platform of those who led the Liberation War in 11 sectors, also demanded that the caretaker administration ban Jatiya Muktijoddha Parishad, a Jamaat-e-Islami-backed organisation.

“Arrest the culprits or you [government] will be responsible for anything untoward that might follow,” Major Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah said, speaking at a press briefing at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium.

On July 11, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat, assaulted elderly freedom fighter Sheikh Mohammad Ali Aman at the city’s Diploma Engineers Institute during a programme organised by Jatiya Muktijoddha Parishad.

Aman came under attack after he in his address had demanded punishment to the Jamaat men who were members of Al-Badr and “Peace Committee” during the war in 1971.

At the news briefing, the Forum leaders announced they will continue their campaign against any electoral alliance with Jamaat and other anti-liberation forces.

KM Shafiullah said, “We want to remind the government that the freedom fighters are still alive and we will go for a tough movement if needed.”

He urged the government to draw up a list of war criminals and disqualify them from all elections.

Lt Gen (retd) Mir Shawkat said, “We don’t need a government that does not care much about the public demand for trial of the war criminals.”

He added, “We are deeply shocked at the assault on a fellow freedom fighter. If the government does not arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book immediately, a chaotic situation might arise in the country.”

Major Gen (retd) CR Dutta said, “We won’t tolerate any insult to the freedom fighters. You (government) will be held responsible if people wage another war for trial of the 1971’s war criminals.”