Justice Commission on 1975 and post-1975 junctures demanded

Those who rose to power following the 1975 assassination of Bangabandhu, misguided the nation and prolonged their tenure by murdering freedom fighters and armed forces personnel must be unmasked, speakers said.

Addressing a webinar titled 'Bloody November: Some Historical Realities' on Friday night, they also demanded formation of a justice commission in this regard, a press release of Centre for Research and Information (CRI) said today.

Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA); Syed Badrul Ahsan, writer and researcher; Maj Gen (retd) Syed Shafayet Islam, son of Syed Nazrul Islam; and journalist Zayadul Ahsan Pintu addressed the programme conducted by journalist and former student leader Subhash Singha Roy.

They also urged conducting research on the murder of four national leaders inside prison on November 3 in 1975 and exposing the masterminds, the CRI press release said.

"The time between August 15 and November 7 is a bloody chapter in the history of Bangladesh. The conspirators of that episode are still alive. They masterminded everything. No matter how old those incidents were, they must be unmasked," said Syed Shafayet Islam.

"Have we taken lessons from the incident of that day in the context of today's reality? Have we been able to carry that lesson forward to this generation? That's what we should ponder on," he added.

"Four national leaders were killed as a sequel to the assassination of Bangabandhu. The assassins figured it out well that the four leaders who had struggled alongside Bangabandhu for the country would navigate Bangladesh towards its goal if they remained alive," said Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin.

Dr Mohiuddin also called upon historians to carry the torch of the history of 1975 to the new generation.

"The flame of truth must rise from ashes. The true history must be unearthed. Amu Bhai, Selim Bhai, Tofail Bhai are writing. If we can add our observations to that, the young generation will get sufficient content," he added.

"What role Taheruddin Thakur and Mahbub Alam Chashi played must be analysed in addition to Khondaker Mostaq and Ziaur Rahman. Many of the masterminds of August 15 died on November 3 and 7. They must undergo posthumous trials. The armed forces personnel who were involved in those murders cannot be spared. We must research on them as well. They must be tried," said Syed Badrul Ahsan.

In the beginning of the discussion, Zayadul Ahsan Pintu asked, "Were the assassinations of Bangabandhu and four national leaders committed merely by 12 armed forces officers? Who were behind the scene?"