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| Bangladesh |
| Sector commanders for ban on anti-independence forces |
| 2007-10-25 |
| Sector Commanders Forum, a platform of sector commanders of the Liberation War, has demanded that the caretaker government ban 'anti- independence' forces like Jamaat-e-Islami from taking part in elections. It also demanded trial of the leaders of Jamaat and other forces which had opposed the Liberation War. The demands were made at a post Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja reunion of freedom fighters at city hotel on Tuesday. Six sector commanders who made the demand also vowed not to attend any state function on the coming Victory Day if anti-liberation forces are invited there. Five of the 11 sector commanders are dead. The reunion was attended by four sector commanders and two others who could not attend expressed solidarity with them. The four are Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta, Lt Gen (retd) Mir Shawkat Ali, Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah, Lt Col (retd) Kazi Nuruzzaman, Air Vice Marshal (ret) A K Khandker, Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-ur-Rashid . The other two backed the demands are Maj (ret) Rafiqul Islam and Col (ret) Abu Osman Chowdhury. A number of freedom fighters were present at the function. The forum opposed the government decision to enrol Biharis (stranded Pakistanis) as voters. It decided to hold a convention in the capital prior of the Victory Day to mobilise public support for its demands. "It is very unfortunate to enrol stranded Pakistanis as voters as they still believe in Pakistan," Shafiullah said at the function. "Most of the Biharis were involved in the killing of Bangladeshis during the Liberation War,” he pointed out. CR Dutta said," It is unfortunate that freedom fighters are now divided … We should remain united if we want to bring anti-liberation forces to trial." Nuruzzaman said," Pro-liberation forces will have to go power to try those who had opposed the Liberation War." Shawkat Ali urged the freedom fighters to get united. The forum would submit memorandums containing their demands to the president, chief adviser and army chief. |
| Posted by:Fred |