Dhaka: Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Tuesday called for formation of an independent commission to try Ziaur Rahman and his accomplices for killing freedom fighters in the armed forces in 1977.
“An independent commission should be formed so that killers of heinous 1977 incident during Ziaur Rahman’s tenure can be tried,” he said while addressing a discussion at Central Shaheed Minar in the capital.
The discussion titled ‘I want justice for the disappearance and killing of freedom fighters in 1977’ was held marking International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Relatives of the victims placed a seven-point demand, including posthumous trial of Ziaur Rahman, at the programme held with Bilkis Begum, daughter of Sergeant Abul Basar Khan, the victim of the 1977 military court trial, in the chair.
Referring to the posthumous trial in different countries, the minister said there has been precedence of posthumous trial in the world.
“Many people have been found guilty in history even if they have not been convicted during their life time. Let the murderer Zia and his accomplices be tried posthumously,” he said adding that such trial will not be illegal.
“It is also the responsibility of law to find out the truth of what happened. From the point of our sense of responsibility, Zia’s posthumous trial must be held,” he said.
Mentioning that Zia hanged many freedom fighters, he said, “There are precedents in many countries where freedom fighters are pardoned even after they commit crimes.
“But murderer Zia hanged our freedom fighters without any reason,” the minister added.
Retired justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik said that some ghastly murders took place in the country in 1977 and Ziaur Rahman was main culprit behind all these killings.
“It is difficult to find a heartless man like him. I think, if the names of Timur Long, Genghis Khan and Nader Shah can be mentioned, Zia’s will also have to be mentioned for his notorious acts,” he said.
Manik said in 1977, Zia killed many freedom fighters on false charge of highjacking Japanese aircraft. Through these farcical killings in the name of justice, Zia established himself as a hated man of history.
While delivering her speech, Bilkis Begum said, “At the age of four, I lost my father.
After my father’s disappearance, no one looked for us. I don’t know where my father was buried. I appeal to Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina to try those involved in the 1977 killings.”
