Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said on Friday the government is committed to completing the trial of the war criminals, reports BSS.
"In accordance with Awami League's pre-poll political commitment, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the trial of the war criminals in 2010...that's why we are witnessing holding of the war crimes trials after so many years, punishment to the culprits and execution of capital punishment against them," she said.
The Speaker said this while speaking as the chief guest a function organised by Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee at the auditorium of Women's Voluntary Association (WVA) at Dhanmondi in the city in observance of the 21st death anniversary of its founder Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam, who almost single-handedly spearheaded the movement for war crimes trial.
At the function, eminent cultural personality and president of the country's prestigious school of music Chhayanaut Prof Sanjida Khatun delivered lecture on "Cultural movement in Bangladesh 1961-1971".
Vice-president (VP) of the Nirmul Committee and widow of a martyr Shyamali Nasreen Chowdhury presided over the function, which was also addressed, among others, by president of Udichi Shilpy Goshthi journalist Kamal Lohani, president of Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities Prof Ajoy Roy, president of Bangladesh Itihash Sammiloni Prof Muntasir Mamun and acting president of Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir.
Saying that it has become possible to hold war crimes trial following the movement of the Nirmul Committee led by Jahanara Imam and the committee's activities, the Speaker laid emphasis on continuation of social and cultural movements for completion of trial of war criminals.
"We have to realise that war crimes trial is unavoidable to uphold our national entity," she said adding: "We have to remain accountable to our posterity if we fail to complete the trial."
At the function, Chhayanaut received Jahanara Imam Memorial Medal for contributions in the fields of cultural and the anti-militancy movements.
Earlier in the morning, leaders and workers of different organisations including Nirmul Committee, BSD, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and other bodies placed wreaths at the grave of Jahanara Imam at Mirpur intellectuals' graveyard in observance of her 21st death anniversary.
