War crimes tribunal rules out debate over number of 1971 martyrs

There is no scope of debate over the number of people martyred during the Liberation War, says the International War Crimes Tribunal after doubts expressed by BNP chief Khaleda Zia triggered howls of protests.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 2 Feb 2016, 09:37 AM
Updated : 2 Feb 2016, 03:58 PM

The observation came in its latest verdict against former Razakar commander from Netrokona, Abu Taher and member Ataur Rahman Noni, who were sentenced to death on Tuesday.

“Three million people laid (down) their lives, hundreds of thousands women

sacrificed their supreme honour for the cause of freeing their dear motherland Bangladesh,” it was said during the verdict.

“This settled history is now indisputably mingled with the nation's holy emotion and the glory of the war of the liberation through which the nation achieved its motherland 'Bangladesh'."

Prosecutor Zead Al Malum, speaking after the verdict, said: “All such arguments have been laid to rest by the tribunal which strongly ruled there was no scope of debate over the 3 million who have been martyred in the war.

“Bangladesh was a result of their sacrifice,”

Khaleda had raised doubts over the number of martyrs which led to a sedition case being filed against her.

“It’s now said that this many people were martyred. But there is debate over how many were actually killed during the Liberation War. Many views have been presented in books,” she told a discussion on Dec 21, last year.

A Dhaka court summoned Khaleda to appear before it on Mar 3 in connection with the sedition case filed against her over her comment.

Her advisor Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, however, protested saying that the case against her ‘does not fall within the definition’ of sedition laws.

He said the home ministry ‘was driven by emotions’ when it permitted the case, and did not think it through.