Bangladesh News

The War Crimes Facts Finding Committee (WCFFC) in a letter to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sought UN support for establishing an International Tribunal to try the war criminals of 1971.

Meanwhile, the Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) yesterday urged the government to formally seek UN assistance for trying the war criminals.

WCFFC Convener Dr MA Hasan yesterday told The Daily Star that the UN secretary general has received the letter sent to him through UN Resident Coordinator Renata Lok Dessallien.

Quoting Renata, Dr Hasan said they are following up the issue.

Giving information about the war crimes committed in 1971, the WCFFC in the letter said, “Under this circumstance, we the War Crimes Facts Finding Committee appeal to the UN to articulate their stand on above issue (trial of war criminals) and render support to the cause.”

“Your (UN) support to our proactive government can enable us to set up an independent enquiry commission to resolve the long lasting conflict on ‘71 crimes,” the letter reads.

The SCF also sent a letter to the UN secretary general seeking appointment to hold talks on the issue, but they did not get it.

“We demand that the government appeal to the United Nations formally to ensure the trial of war criminals,” the SCF said in a written statement at the launching ceremony of a book titled ‘Bangladesh Genocide 1971- The Trial of War Criminals’ published by the SCF at the Liberation War Museum in the capital.

“The trial of war criminals is directly related to the ideology of the state, its independence and sovereignty,” the SCF said.

SCF Chairman and deputy commander-in-chief of the liberation war Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker told reporters that they have been preparing a list of war criminals, which will be published soon.

“The SCF is preparing three lists containing the names of war criminals, the victims and the witnesses of war crimes separately,” said AK Khandaker.

The SCF also submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser (CA) on Saturday demanding trial of war criminals. It also asked the CA to hold talks with the SCF leaders on the issue.

Sector commanders Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta and Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah also spoke.

Meanwhile, Awami League (AL) called upon the UN secretary general to take initiative to try the war criminals before the national elections.

“The UN is conducting trials of war criminals in many countries. We also want UN help for trying the war criminals of 1971,” AL acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after a meeting with the UN secretary general at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.