The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Two factions of BNP - led by secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain (loyal to Khaleda Zia) and acting secretary general Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed (reformist group) - placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum and at late President Zia' mazar marking the Victory Day.

They paid tributes to the millions of martyrs of the liberation war and late President Ziaur Rahman and prayed for peace and salvation of the departed souls.

Delwar-led BNP will hold a discussion meeting marking the Victory Day at the Engineers Institute on Monday.

Talking to reporters, party joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan said BNP would materialize the dream of the martyrs by restoring peace and democracy in the country.

He said the war criminals must be tried and the government would have to take the initiative for holding the trial.

Khan said the main responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold a free and fair election and hand over power to the elected government.

Major (retd) Hafiz said the dream of the freedom fighters has not yet been realised. Time has come for BNP and other political parties to take a renewed vow to materialize the dream of freedom fighters. He said: "There are anti-liberation elements in all political parties… there can be alliance with many parties in political expediency, but BNP will never deviate from the spirit of the liberation war."

He added: "We've made alliance with political parties, but we never entered into any alliance with parties opposed to the liberation war."

Hafiz said: "I want trial of the war criminals and this has to be arranged by the government."

He said that in the absence of a political government, a quarter is creating indiscipline in the name of holding trial of the war criminals.

The BNP leader said that while in power, Awami League also forgot the issue of holding trial of the war criminals.

Speaker Zamiruddin Sircar placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar and Zia's mazar at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Leaders of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, Krishak Dal, Sramik Dal, Swechhasebak Dal, Mohila Dal and BMA and DAB also placed wreaths at Zia's mazar.