The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, London

Speakers at a meeting here demanded that the Bangladesh government should try those who were responsible for genocide and war crimes during the Liberation War in 1971 under International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973. The meeting, organized by Jatiyo Samonnoy Committee at East London's Brady Centre, also demanded ban on those parties who opposed Bangladesh's independence and promote sectarian politics. The meeting was addressed among others by Jeremy Seabrook, author of 'Freedom Unfinished: Fundamentalism and Popular Resistance in Bangladesh Today', Dr Ahmed Zia, Bangladesh Centre for Genocide Studies, Belgium, Murad Qureshi AM, Labour Group, London Assembly, Gita Sahgal, producer of 'War Crimes File', Cllr Ayub Korom Ali of Gono Forum, Cllr Shahid Ali, Tower Hamlets Deputy Mayor, and Al Amin, Secretary Swedish Nirmul Committee. The meeting was chaired by Ansar Ahmed Ullah & conducted by M A Rauf.

They pledged full support to the initiative taken by the Sector Commanders Forum.

The speakers demanded that the Bangladesh government should take the responsibility to investigate crimes committed in 1971 and the perpetrators to justice.

They also urged the UK government to initiate trial against alleged war criminal Chowdhury Moeenuddin under Geneva Conventions Act 1957. Prof Farida Banu, sister of martyred intellectual Ghyasuddin Ahmad, had filed case with Ramna Police Station in 1997 against two al-Badr cadres including Chowdhury Moeenuddin for killing her brother on December 14 in 1971.

Other speakers at the meeting were Nooruddin Ahmed, chairperson, Muktijuddho o Ganomukti Andolon, Shamsuddin Khan, president, Awami League, Prof Abul Hasem, general secretary Awami League, Harmuz Ali, acting secretary, Bangladesh Welfare Association, Sajjad Miah of Brick Lane Business Association, Syed Enam, general secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Ahad Chowdhury Babu, organising secretary, Nirmul Committee, Ishaque Kajal, general secretary, Workers Party of Bangladesh and Abdur Razzak, secretary JSD. The meeting was followed by a musical soiree presented by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, UK branch, and Satyen Sen School of Performing Arts.