AL, others boycott Bangabhaban celebrations

Dhaka, Dec 16 (bdprem.com) – Many political parties Sunday boycotted Victory Day celebrations at the Bangabhaban protesting the invitation of Jamaat-e-Islami, which played controversial roles in the 1971 War of Independence. The Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Liberal Democratic Party and their allies did not attend the programme hosted by president Iajuddin Ahmed. Your Ad Here Also, the sector commanders of the 1971 war boycotted the state reception. But most leaders of the BNP that formed an alliance with Jamaat during the Khaleda administration joined the programme. At a discussion meeting on Victory Day, Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed said: "We can't join a programme with Jamaat as its leaders are war criminals." Acting BNP secretary general Hafizuddin Ahmed told bdprem.com: "It's a state programme. That's why we went there. There was no reason to mix things up." On the demand for trial of 'war criminals', he said: "I definitely want the trial of war criminals." "But we have to find out why the war criminals were not tried and why the Awami League also skipped the issue during its rule," Hafizuddin said. Former president HM Ershad, also chairman of the Jatiya Party, told bdprem.com: "I should have joined the programme as former president, but I can't go there as Jatiya Party chairman." The former military dictator chorused with other political leaders on their demand for trial of war criminals. "I think they should be tried."