DHAKA: Deputy Speaker Colonel (Rtd) Shawkat Ali Thursday alleged that slain president Ziaur Rahman had a hand in all anarchic activities after the killing of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

He came up with the swinging criticism at a roundtable titled quick completion of trial of war criminals and contemporary events jointly organized by ‘Projonmo ’71’ and Bangladesh Enterprise for development and security study at the Jatiya Press Club.

The deputy speaker said, “To block the trial of war criminals, Sheikh Mujib was killed in 1975. Not only this, he (Zia) established in politics the persons who were involved in the killing.”

Colonel Shawkat was sent on compulsory retirement in October 1975 when general Zia was the army chief amid major political developments following the assassination of Bangabandhu Mujib and the overthrow of his government on 15 August by a military cabal.       

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain Tajul Islam, who spoke at the roundtable as special guest, said Awami League returned to power this time around with a greater mandate than it got in 1996, as trying the war crimes was a prime pledge.

“If the trial of the war criminals could not be held during the current term, the nation would not pardon us,” Tajul Islam said.

The state minister said the trial will be held not only of top five but all will be brought to justice in phases. He said Jamaat’s politics and business would be probed into.

At the roundtable, with president of the Projonmo ’71 Azizul Haq in the chair, the keynote paper was placed by Joyanta Acharia.  Among others, it was addressed by Information and Publicity Secretary of Awami League Advocate Afjal Hossain and City AL publicity secretary Khairul Islam Sabuj.  

BDST/1430 HRS, JULY 22, 2010