DHAKA: Deputy Speaker Colonel (retd) M Shawkat Ali Friday suggested that the government ban all brands of religion-based politics and commerce to free the nation from the grips of communalism and fundamentalism.

“The government ideologically stands against communalism and militancy. The grand alliance has to be expanded to build national solidarity for holding the trial of war criminals,” he said at a roundtable meeting organized by Anti-Communalism and Militancy Mancha at the Liberation War Museum Conference Hall.

“Those who are engaged in bad politics wear “mask of religion”, the deputy speaker said. “Now is the time to unmask them.”

Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Or-Rashid, General Secretary of the Sector Commanders’ Forum, told the meeting that the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami have penetrated root level of society.  

“They’re misguiding people in the name of Islam. So, the trial of war criminals should be acceptable nationally and internationally,” general Rashid said, advising the government to proceed with the trial cautiously.

Professor Syed Anwar Hossain said an incomplete task of the Liberation War would be finished through holding trial of the war criminals.

Observing that Jamaat has a past record of changing its strategy in politics, he suggested the government to “be tactful” in trying war criminals.

Leaders of different political parties were also present at the meeting.

After the roundtable, the organization declared a human-chain demo for July 22.

BDST 1402 HRS JULY 16, 2010