Women leaders blasts BNP for its move to protect war criminals

Woman leaders have blasted opposition BNP for taking the side of war criminals and demanding the stoppage of the ongoing International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) proceedings, reports BSS. They said the BNP leaders were hatching conspiracy and making a ploy to protect the war criminals who were involved in genocide, looting, rape and arson in 1971. The women leaders' reactions came after BNP leader Moudud Ahmed's demanded at a press conference on Saturday that the government should stop all proceedings of ICT constituted on 25 March 2011. The government should take punitive measure immediately against those who are trying to protect the perpetrators of the crime against humanity, the leaders said. "I am annoyed, surprised and worried to see the demand of BNP. This is a ploy to foil the trial of the war criminals," said Ayesha Khanam, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP). "I am astonished to see how a man who has minimum human quality and respect towards rule and law and democracy could oppose trial of the war criminals," Ayesha told BSS. Executive Director of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha Rokeya Kabir said the BNP leader Moudud Ahmed's demand is a clear violation of human rights as he has taken side against those who made heinous crimes in 1971. "Raising such demand BNP showed a sheer disrespect to martyred freedom fighters, country's independence and mothers-sisters who were inhumanly tortured by Pakistani army and their local collaborators such as razakars and al- badars," she added. "Moudud must be put on the dock," demanded Rokeya Kabir. Ferdousi Priyobhashini, a war veteran, demanded immediate action against BNP leader Moudud Ahmed as what she said he is (Moudud) going against the entire nation raising such demand. "On behalf of the nation, I want to request the government to take legal action against Moudud Ahmed," she said. Aroma Dutta, executive director of Private Rural Initiatives Program (PRIP) Trust, said it is not logical to say that ICT does not meet international standard because the government constituted the ICT fulfilling all international requirements and consultation with technical experts from the USA and the UK. "Those who committed crimes such as killings, rapes and torture during the Liberation War must be tried," said Aroma, whose grandfather Dhirendra Nath Dutta and Uncle Dilip Kumar Dutta were killed during the Liberation War.