Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has termed 'unfortunate' the alleged resistance by opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia against the trial of war criminals. "The trial of war crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war is being held according to the expectation of the people. But unfortunately, our opposition leader has opposed the move," she told journalists on Friday.
Hasina added that the BNP chief is also trying to save the war criminals by obstructing their trials through movements.
On Oct 18, Khaleda alleged that the government was out to annihilate BNP-led four-party alliance.
She said the government had set up an International Crimes Tribunal with party men towards such an end.
"This is not a trial but farce," she said of the war crimes trials.
She demanded immediate release of Jamaate Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mojaheed, Delwar Hossain Sayedee and BNP's Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who are behind bars on war crimes charges.
Khaleda said any war crimes trial would have to be transparent and there must be provisions for foreign lawyers in that process.
Hasina was talking to journalists after paying respects at the Memorial Wall of Bir Pratik W A S Ouderland, the only foreigner given the gallantry award for contributions as a freedom fighter during the 1971 liberation war, at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.
"We came to power after 21 years in 1996," she said adding that the war criminals and their patrons were in power since the killing of independence architect Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.
Claiming that the trials are the demands of all Bangladeshi, Hasina said "The trial process has started and the war criminals would be tried."
She recalled Ouderland's contribution to Bangladesh 's independence and said, "The way a foreigner fought for the liberation of our motherland is a great inspiration for the younger generation."
A Dutch citizen, Ouderland, was posted as the CEO of Bata Shoe Company in Dhaka when the liberation war broke out.
Witnessing the brutal crackdown by the Pakistani occupational forces on unarmed Bangladeshi, Ouderland was compelled to aware the world about the genocide taking place.
His status as a foreigner allowed him free movement which he utilised to take photographs of the atrocities committed by the Pakistani army and their local agents then and pass them onto the world press.
As the war progressed, Ouderland, who also took part in the World War II as a sergeant in the Royal Dutch Signals Corps, secretly began to train and assist local youths around the Tongi area in the art of guerrilla warfare.
Ouderland remained in Bangladesh till 1978 and was then transferred to Australia.
He later settled in Australia and died after a prolonged ailment at the age of 84. He was laid to rest in Perth.
Source: bdnews24.com
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