Anti-liberation forces have no right to be in politics: DU VC

DU Correspondent Dhaka University (DU) Wednesday observed Martyred Intellectuals Day in a befitting manner with a call to expedite the trial of war criminals. DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique at a discussion has demanded exemplary punishment to the killers of the heroes so that such kind of occurrence are not repeated. Marking the day the university authorities organised the programme at Teacher-Students Center (TSC) of DU. Among others, DU Treasurer Prof Mizanur Rahman, Registrar Syed Rezaur Rahman and president of DU Officers' Association Ashraf Uddin addressed the programme. Earlier, students, teachers and staff of the university paid their respects at the graveyard of the martyrs through placing wreaths and offering prayer. Beside, different socio-cultural organisations formed human chain at DU demanding trial of killers of the university's students, teachers and employees during the bloody war of independence. bdnews24.com adds: Dhaka University (DU) Vice-chancellor (VC) AAMS Arefin Siddiqui has said anti-liberation forces have no right to be in politics. "Those who supported the Pakistani occupation forces are criminals, and criminals have no rights, even though rights are equal for everyone in a democratic country," Arefin Siddiqui added. He said, "Perpetrators of war crimes are now trying to stop the trial of crimes against humanity. They must be brought under trial." Sensing imminent defeat of Pakistani army men and their local collaborators -- Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- abducted frontline Bengali intellectuals and professionals on this day in 1971, and killed them in a planned way to intellectually cripple the soon-to-be-born nation. Most victims were DU teachers and scholars. Some of the noted martyrs are DU professors Dr G C Dev, Dr Munier Chowdhury, Dr Mufazzal Haider Chaudhury, Dr Anwar Pasha, Dr M Abul Khair, Dr Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, Humayun Kabir, Rashidul Hasan and Saidul Hassan. Meanwhile, different social and cultural organisations operating out of DU have jointly organised an elaborate three-day programme to mark the 40th anniversary of victory. Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS), DU Debating Society (DUDS), DU Tourists Society (DUTS), SU Photographic Society (DUPS), Slogan '71, Tirandaz and some other organisations are jointly organizing the programmes, which began on Wednesday morning. The organisers formed a human chain demanding the trial of those who killed the intellectuals on Dec 14, 1971 -- two days before the victory. Slogan '71 also held 'My Beloved National Flag', making a giant national flag. Among other programmes scheduled are various cultural functions, stage shows, concert, demonstrations, video presentations, film show, releasing hot air balloons and fireworks. The programmes will end on Dec 16 with a DUFS-arranged open film festival, where video footage from the 'Concert for Bangladesh' and some movies on the Liberation War will be screened.