Sector Commanders Forum holds fourth national convention

Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) held its fourth national convention yesterday with a 15-point declaration, including a demand to strengthen and broaden the activities of the International Crimes Tribunal.

Several hundred freedom fighters and many pro-liberation organisations' members attended the convention at Dhaka University.

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Points of the declaration include set-up of a special bench at the Supreme Court for quick disposal of appeals and review petitions of convicted war criminals, formation of tribunals in every division to quicken trials of war criminals and baring political parties of anti-liberation forces from participating in elections.

Freedom fighter and cultural activist M Hamid presented the declarations. Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, who was the army chief when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed on August 15, 1975, chaired the convention.   

"The aim of the forum is trial of war criminals," said KM Shafiullah.  

ABM Khairul Haque, chairman of Bangladesh Law Commission, said, "Not only war criminals, but perpetrators of any crime must be brought to book for establishment of law and order."

He also urged for preservations of the site where the Pakistani occupation force surrendered on December 16 as "Independence Square".

Sammilito Sangskritik Jote President Golam Kuddus, Bangladesh Peshajibi Samannay Parishad President Justice AFM Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) Vice Chairman Abu Osman Chowdhury, and DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (education) Nasreen Ahmad delivered speeches among others.

A new central executive committee of Sector Commanders Forum was also formed at the end of the convention.

KM Shafiullah was elected as chairman and Harun Habib was re-elected as secretary general of the forum.

Sector commanders Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta, Bir Uttam; Lt Col (retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, Bir Uttam; and Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam, Bir Uttam; were elected as presidents.