Govt won’t step back, no matter how big challenges come: State Minister Capt (retd) Taj

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Jul 30 (UNB) - The nation has found a great chance to try the war criminals and there is no scope to step back but what is needed urgently is national unity, discussants said at a roundtable on Friday.
“Conspiracy was there, conspiracy exists and conspiracy will be there….But, we’ve to ensure victory at the end. There is no way to step back,” state minister for liberation war affairs Capt (retd) ABM Tajul Islam said.
He said the government has preparations to overcome any hurdles in the way of completing trial of war criminals. “Trial of war criminals will have to be accomplished to free the country from stigma…the government won’t step back no matter how big challenge comes.”
Tajul Islam made the remarks at the roundtable titled “Communalism, Militancy and Trial of War Criminals” held at the National Press Club this evening.
Dhakanews24.com, an online Bangla newspaper, arranged the roundtable. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, World University of Bangladesh VC Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, Amena Ahmed MP, Gonoforum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, CPB leader Mujahedul Islam Selim, Rokeya Kabir and Sommilito Sangskritik Jote leader Golam Kuddus among others took part in the discussion.
The state minister said the government has no doubt about the success of the trial of war criminals. “It’s a true…true always prevails.”
Tajul said “Conspiracy is on to foil the trial….no conspiracy will be able to stop us.”
He assured that the entire world would consider the trial process as a model for such trial in the future.
“We’ve got a stronger new generation. We want to keep a democratic and secular Bangladesh for them by uprooting militancy and punishing the war criminals,” he said.
Prof Arefin Siddique said the country’s 15 crore people want exemplary punishment of war criminals; and rule of justice can not be established without punishing them through quick trial.
Mujahedul Islam Selim said: “We’re now living under the 72 constitution as the Supreme Court upheld High Court’s verdict.”
He said Jamat-e-Islam is an illegal political party in accordance with the 72 Constitution.
Selim urged all to wake up people at the grassroot-level for involving them in the process of uprooting anti-liberation forces.
Pankaj Bhattacharya said countrywide rallies should be organized to encourage people to stand against the anti-liberation forces. “We’re planning to hold a big rally at Paltan Maidan by December,” he said.
END/UNB/AKM