Nirmul body calls upon parties not to nominate war criminals in polls

Ekattorer Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee, a forum for war crimes trial, urged on Tuesday the political parties to not to nominate any candidate from anti-liberation force, report agencies.

At a press briefing at the National Press Club in the city, it also called upon the Election Commission (EC) to take necessary measures to avoid any communal violence in the coming national election.

Shahriar Kabir, president of the forum, said the political parties should not nominate people against whom there are allegations of committing crimes against humanity and genocide in 1971.

If the children of the war crime convicts don't repent for their parents' crimes and seek apology from the martyrs' families and the nation, then the political parties should not nominate them as well, he said.

He also called for not giving nomination to those who are directly or indirectly involved in fundamentalist criminal activities, drug trading, smuggling, corruption and so on.

Shahriar Kabir asked the EC to make sure no candidate from Jamaat-e-Islam can take part in the election as independent candidate.

The forum urged the government to introduce a minority protection law to ensure their safety during the election time so that they can vote according to their choice.

"In 92 electoral regions of Bangladesh, 12 to 48 per cent voters belong to minority communities", he said.

Shahriar Kabir demanded forming a committee to prevent any communal violence.