The New Nation - Internet Edition

In a seminar on Saturday at the National Press Club under the auspicious of Muktijoddha Oikkya Parishad, two speakers lashed at an Islam oriented political party and demanded trial of those belonging to that party suspected of committing or abetting crimes like arson, raping and murder during the war of independence. We too want trial, however, not only of those but also of all involved in such crimes during the post-independent period.

The nation has not forgotten the killing of about 10,000 workers of a new born political party between 1972 and mid-1975 and the death of comrade Siraj Sikder under police custody. The masterminds of those killing should also be brought to justice.

Crime is crime. There should not be any discrimination between man and man, between woman and woman. If one is spared from punishment and the other is punished, the society we live in will be gradually turn unjust and a turmoil of injustice will sweep justice making the society inhabitable. This is the reason that no sensible man advocates for two laws for same kind of crime.

We fought for a land where there will be no wrong and that every body will get his due share. But soon after the independence, our dream was shattered. When national consensus was required to administer the government, we noticed a sharp division in the then ruling party, leading to the emergence of an ultra-left political party. Those who actually fought for the nation in 1972 gathered at one center with pledge to establish Marxism through class struggle. But the tens of thousands of workers of the new born political party did not know that the price was heavy, innumerable.

Today we demand trial of all crimes occurred in 1971 and thereafter.

Khaled

Lalbagh, Dhaka