DHAKA: State Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate Kamrul Islam Wednesday reaffirmed that the nation would be made stigma-free through holding trial of the war criminals and sought new-generation BNP people’s help in matter of national importance.

While addressing a rally organized by Jatiya Sramik League at Muktangan to drum up their demand for holding the trial, he said, “The country will be redeemed from the sin staging trial of the war criminals. The identified killers have already been arrested and they will have to stand in the dock within this year.”

Kamrul Islam called upon the young generation in the opposition BNP to extend their help in holding the trial of the war criminals.

The ruling-party leader observed that the younger generation voted for Awami League in the last general election for holding trial of the war criminals. “We are committed to them. So, you, the younger generation in the BNP, please help us in doing the trial,” he said.

The minister told his audience that opening the process of trial of the war criminals is taking some time because the overdue trial is taking place 39 years after the war. Investigation into the incidents is also taking time. “When the trial starts, no obstruction would be able to delay the trial.”

Joint General Secretary of the Awami League Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif told the rally that trial of the war criminals must be held on the soil of Bangladesh. “Through holding the trial, the communal forces will be eliminated from the soil once for all.”

Turning to the hot issue of city councilor and BNP leader Chowdhury Alam’s disappearance, Hanif said he is a “terrorist” and accused in cases.

Pointing his finger at BNP chairperson and ex-PM Begum Khaleda Zia, he said secret killings were started during the BNP rule. “You have taught this.”  

To justify his strong contentions the vocal AL leader said Chattra League leader Munir of Dhaka and businessman Jamaluddin of Chittagong went missing during the BNP rule. The skeleton of Jamaluddin was found after two years and Munir still remained untraced.

“ You know well where Alam is hiding. Don’t try to create disturbance centering it,” Hanif said to indicate that the Chy Alam episode is BNP’s political gimmick.  

Among others, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Awami League Labour Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, President of Sramik League Abdul Matin Master and General Secretary Roy Romesh Chandra addressed the rally.

After the rally, the ruling-party men brought out a procession that dispersed at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel commercial area.  

BDST/ 1247 HRS, JULY 21, 2010