By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh observes its 40th Independence Day Thursday, when it also sets in motion the trial of the “war criminals”, the Islamist militia who killed unarmed civilians during the freedom movement.
The intervening night of Thursday-Friday would be mourned as the “black night”, marking the crackdown on civilians by then Pakistan Army. Bangladesh was East Pakistan before gaining independence in 1971.
Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight on the night of March 25, targeting civilians, leaving an estimated 7,000 dead.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday night approved initiation of the trial of war criminals, “which will open a new chapter in the history of Bangladesh”, said The Daily Star newspaper.
Dhaka says three million people perished during the nine-month struggle that culminated in freedom when the Pakistan Army surrendered to a joint force of Bangladesh and India Dec 16, 1971.
Besides the army personnel, the killings were allegedly carried out by Islamist militia called Razakars.
While many fled to Pakistan and others have died, Dhaka plans to try an estimated 1,500 people against whom freedom fighters and NGOs have given evidence.
A government move to hold ‘symbolic’ trials of a few is being resisted by the freedom fighters.
Among the accused are top leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party that shared power during 2001-06, but is now in the opposition.
Jamaat chief Motiour Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahmed Mojahid deny involvement in killing civilians.
“If necessary the law-enforcement agencies will arrest the persons who are widely known as war criminals as part of the starting trial process,” The Daily Star newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying.
The issue of war crimes and the trial is a sensitive one in Bangladesh.
Dhaka has amended its law in line with the rules and procedures followed under the international law.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said a three-member tribunal, including two sitting high court judges, would be formed.
The law ministry would send the file to President Zillur Rahman for approval and then the gazette notification would be published late Thursday.