Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the nation had started getting rid of the stigma of impunity through the completion of trial and execution of war criminals.
The premier criticised former president Ziaur Rahman, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad for rehabilitating those involved in war crimes in 1971, killings of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the national leaders in jail.
“Ziaur Rahman did not try the war criminals. We tried and executed the war criminals,” she said in her 42-minute-long wind-up speech in parliament.
Saying that crimes of anti-liberation forces during the Liberation War were endless, the leader of the House said: “I think through the trial and execution of the war criminals the victims’ family members will at least get some consolation.
“If we cannot end the trial of war criminals, the nation will never be freed from curse.”
The premier said after independence a tribunal was formed and trial was going on but after August 15, 1975, Ziaur Rahman assumed office and installed the razakars and collaborators in the office.
“Shah Aziz was made the prime minister, Abul Alim was made a minister and many more war criminals were put in the positions of state hierarchy,” she said.
Hasina also said the self-claimed killers of Bangabandhu were also rewarded in the same fashion. Even one of the killers contested for presidential post when Ershad was in office.
“We have completed the trial of those involved in the Bangabandhu killing and jail killings and the war crimes trials are going on,” she said.
Hasina said the intellectuals of the country were killed in a planned way just before the victory of Bangladesh.
She said there is a tremendous international pressure on Bangladesh after some recent incidents to make Bangladesh admit that there is the presence of Islamic State here.
Calling upon the people of the country to stay alert, the prime minister said there is no place for militancy in the soil of Bangladesh.
“There is no place for militancy or IS in Bangladesh. In every Muslim country around the globe, there is a crisis but Bangladesh is safer. A report of the USA said Bangladesh is safer than the USA itself. We want to keep Bangladesh peaceful,” she said.
The premier said: “All have to be aware of it. Law enforcers should have to be informed if they find any information on militancy. People are already aware of that.”
Slamming Khaleda for killing 508 people Hasina said the BNP chief is yet to withdraw the countrywide blockade.