Dhaka, Aug 28 (bdnews24.com) – The presence of a minister and a top government law official in a programme of a television channel owned by a suspected war criminal has raised questions about the fairness of war crimes trial.
Industries minister and Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua on Friday launched the second anniversary celebrations of Diganta TV, of which Jamaat-e-Islami executive committee member Mir Kashem Ali is the chairman of management committee.
Additional attorney general MK Rahman, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) president AK Azad and prominent freedom fighter Kader Siddique were also present there.
There are allegations of war crimes against Kashem, who was a leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha (predecessor to Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat), during the independence war in 1971.
The government has recently formed the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), investigation committee and lawyer panel to try the war criminals. Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla have already been arrested in this regard.
Earlier, home minister Shahara Khatun had said that the identified war criminals were prohibited to leave the country. Kashem is on that list.
Shahriar Kabir, convenor of ICT Sohayak Mancha, expressed his discontent over Barua's presence in the programme.
He told bdnews24.com, "It is not proper for a sitting minister to attend their programmes. Barua has to shoulder the responsibility for this.
Barua's Samyabadi Dal was with us when we were staging movement for the trial of the war criminals, he said, "How can he attend the programme of Diganta TV now?"
"We will request the prime minister to ensure that cabinet members do not attend any programme of suspected war criminals."
Barua could not be reached for comment as he had already left the country on Saturday morning.
However, on May 22, he had said, "war crimes trial is this government's electoral pledge. The whole country is united on this issue."
Regarding his presence in the programme, MK Rahman told bdnews24.com, "I went there after hearing that Barua was going to attend."
He appeared to be surprised and questioned back, "Is this Kashem the same person who had fled the country some days back?"
Azad, for his part, commented, "I went there as a professional. I own a media outlet as well and it is normal for me to attend programme of another media."
"I did not consider any political aspects," he added.
Kader Siddique, when asked about his presence as a freedom fighter in the programme of a suspected war criminal, said, "I was there the same way a minister did."
He also said, "I do not consider any channel to represent any political party."
A prominent leader of movement for war crimes trial and convenor of War Crimes Facts Finding Committee MA Hasan told bdnews24.com, attending such programme indicates support to the owners of the organisation.
"It looks very bad when a minister attends the programme of an organisation owned by Kashem as there are various allegations against him," he said.
"Barua has to explain this behaviour to the public."
On Aug 20, the Liberation War Museum rejected a donation of Tk 5 million by Islami Bank through the prime minister for the construction of a new building, on grounds of involvement with suspected war criminals. Kashem, chairman of Diganta TV, is a former chairman of Islami Bank.
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