Hundreds of Bangladeshis vow to continue their fight to bring war criminals, 195 Pakistan Army men to justice

People from across the broad spectrum of society, including freedom fighters, have taken oath to “continue their fight” until all the war criminals and the 195 Pakistani Army personnel, who were allowed to go free, are brought to justice.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan administered the oath at a mass demonstration programme in front of National Press Clubon Wednesday, the day Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.
 
The programme was held under the banner of 'International War Crimes Mass Trial Committee'. Shipping minister and Awami League leader is the convener of the committee.
 
After the oath-taking, Khan announced a mass-contact campaign from Jan 7 to 9 demanding trial of war criminals and Pakistan Army personnel.
 
He also announced a mass rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on March 26, Independence Day.
 

At the start of the programme, Shajahan Khan thanked the court and the lawyers for the confirmation of Nizami’s death penalty.

“We are conducting the war crimes trial to purge the country of the ignominy. Already four have been hanged. Soon, the verdicts against others will also be executed,” he said.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq expressed solidarity with the programme.

He said, “BNP chief Khaleda Zia though had put the figure of freedom fighters at 3 million when she was prime minister, she is now contradicting herself to echo Pakistan’s claim.”

He said he is satisfied with the upholding of the death penalty for Nizami.

A four-member appellate bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice SK Sinha on Wednesday retained the death sentence awarded to the Jamaat leader by the International Crimes Tribunal.

Huq said Jamaat, which was involved in genocide, loot and rape, cannot have the right to “take part in the politics” of this country.

The minister also demanded that properties of the war criminals be confiscated and utilised for the welfare of the freedom-loving people.

He further alleged that Pakistan had violated the agreement by not conducting the trials of 195 listed Pakistani war criminals.

“Upholding of death sentence for Nizami has established that there is no place for war criminals here,” said journalist Abed Khan, who also extended solidarity with the programme.

skp/bd​