The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Expelled BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday demanded trial of war criminals saying, "The Government must move to try the war criminals, an individual can not do it."

He said this at a discussion meeting to mark the Victory Day at a convention centre at Gulshan in the city.

It is the first such public utterance made by any of the faction leaders of the BNP, which allied itself with Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, blamed for its controversial role during the Liberation War in 1971.

He said, "The government must take initiative to try the war criminals in line with people's demand".

"The War criminals killed many intellectuals but nobody punished them, even after strong allegations about them," he said, "They have so far escaped trial."

He said some people were engaged in downgrading the role of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman. He urged all to give due recognition to those who deserve so.

Acting Secretary General of BNP Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed condemned the killing of intellectuals by the war criminals.