Trial of war criminals to free nation from another stigma: Hasina

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has urged the professionals to work together for trial of the war criminals saying the trial would free the nation from another stigma and grip of the evil force which has been exploiting the nation for long. The PM said this at a grand rally and convention of the Jatiya Peshajibi Somonnoy Parishad at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the city Sunday, reports BSS. Convener of the Somonnoy Parishad Justice AFM Mesbahuddin presided over the rally and leaders of different professional units of the Parishad spoke on the occasion. Peshajibi leaders, convener of the convention preparatory committee Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, member secretary Prof Dr Quamrul Hasan Khan, Principal Qazi Faruk Ahmed, Prof Abul Barakat, Agriculturist Bahauddin Nasim, Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) President Prof Anwar Hossain, BUET Vice-chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam, Vice-chairman of Bar Council Abul Baset Majumder and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists' (BFUJ) President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury spoke in the convention. "As we freed the nation from the stigma through the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu, we will surely make the nation free from the grip of the anti-liberation forces, which is responsible for building a society of exploitation after 1975," she said. "No vicinity of the country was spared from their atrocity during the War of Liberation in 1971 and people of the country who were subjected to their torture can never forget the memories," she added. Being patronised by Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad, the killers of martyrs grabbed the state power and exploited the nation after the killing of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina said adding "the nation must be freed from their clutches." Jatiya Peshajibi Somonnoy Parishad, a platform of the different professional groups including lawyers, teachers, doctors, engineers, journalists and other professionals organised the convention on three basic demands. The demands are trial of the persons responsible for criminal activities during the War of Liberation in 1971, fulfillment of the demand of the professionals and workout Parishad's course of action to help implement Vision-2021 of the present government. Referring to the progress the nation achieved during the last three years, the PM urged all concerned to generate 'hope and aspiration' in people instead of giving misleading statements on the country's economy and sinking the nation into frustration. She said the government is borrowing money from the banks to carryout development activities, not for luxury. "We keep confidence in people and we are working for them as we are committed to building a developed, poverty and hunger free Bangladesh by 2021," she added. Sheikh Hasina ruled out the media reports based on the notion of a section of people that the country is reeling on liquidity crisis and shortage of foreign reserve. Comparing to many other countries, Bangladesh's economy remained more stable due to efficient management of the government and ample food stock in the country. She said failing to distort the history of the War of Liberation, the anti-liberation forces want to send the people into oblivion. They want to take advantage of the situation as our youths don't know the real history of the country," she added. Recalling the contribution of the professionals in all democratic movements, the PM said democracy has been restored in the country in line with their simultaneous movements.