[Bangla Daily Star] Leading figures of the ruling Awami League-led grand alliance yesterday vowed to try the war criminals at any cost and alleged that the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami...
The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
were trying to foil the trial by creating anarchy in the country.
They made the promise at a mass rally organised to demand a quick trial of the wartime collaborators of the Pakistain occupation force and to resist BNP-Jamaat's "move to protect those war criminals".
At the gathering, the first of its kind since the formation of the alliance three years ago, AL Presidium Member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury called upon leaders and activists of the allied parties to launch a door-to-door hunt to catch the collaborators.
Leaders, workers and supporters present at the rally swore an oath administrated by Sajeda, who is also deputy leader of the House and coordinator of her party-led 14-party coalition now in a grand alliance along with Jatiya Party.
"We are taking an oath to the effect that the way in which we defeated the Pakistain occupation force after forging unity regardless of religion, race and colour under the directive of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and gained independence, is the same way in which we will safeguard our freedom.
"And we will try the war criminals who committed genocide, rape and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. We will root out militancy and fundamentalism from the country, and establish democracy under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, and build a developed Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu."
Announcing torch processions to be organised in districts and upazilas across the country on January 7 and 11, she said, "As part of the programmes, we also will salute those who were tortured during the war of independence."
Later yesterday, commenting on Sajeda's directive, Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, said "Once the people are left to take the law into their own hands, there are chances of anarchy breaking out."
He, however, said the people can contribute to the trial process by providing information and evidence of crimes against humanity to the Sherlocks.
The crucial rally was arranged in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, blocking the busy Matsya Bhaban-Shahbagh road, although Suhrawardy Udyan had earlier been fixed as the venue.
The huge gathering caused a gridlock in the area and other parts of the capital for hours, causing immense suffering to people.
Tens of thousands of leaders, workers and supporters of the grand alliance joined the rally, which began at 2:30pm. The road from Katabon intersection to Matsya Bhaban turned into a human sea.
Addressing the rally, various leaders of the grand alliance leaders said nothing could stop the trial which is the core demand of the nation. The people will be agitating on the streets until the last collaborator is brought to book.
AL leader Amir Hossain Amu said the people of Bangladesh, who by responding to the call of Bangabandhu had fought against the Pakistain occupation force in 1971 for independence, would be united again on the issue of the war crimes trial.
He alleged that BNP Chairperson
Khaleda ZiaThree-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
had become the spokesperson of communal and anti-liberation forces by siding with them.
Tofail Ahmed, another party veteran, alleged that BNP-Jamaat had resorted to kabooms and vandalism to thwart the war crimes trial. "But no power in the world can foil the trial once it has got underway on this soil."
Suranjit Sengupta, advisory council member of the party and minister for railways, said the nation would never allow the opposition to foil the war crimes trial.
AL Presidium Member and agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, however, assured the crowd that BNP-Jamaat would not be able to hinder the trial through kabooms or any other kind of violence.
Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AL's acting general secretary, said the whole nation was now in favour of the trial.