'Present generation wants murderer Zia's posthumous trial'

The demand for Ziaur Rahman's posthumous trial is the demand of today's generation.

“So I am expressing this demand on behalf of Bangladesh Awami Juba League,” Bangladesh Awami Juba League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash came up with this remark on Friday.

On the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of Sheikh Jamal, the second son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a discussion was held at Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) Auditorium, where he came up with this remark.

Parash said, “After independence in 1975 the then army chief Safiullah and deputy army chief Ziaur Rahman failed to prosecute the soldiers who shed the blood of the freedom fighter army officers.”

Ziaur Rahman's direct and indirect involvement in the assassination of freedom fighter Sheikh Jamal is evident in Zia's subsequent activities. Army personnel who killed this freedom fighter army officer were not prosecuted under army law. Rather Zia's illegitimate government rewards the killers, he added.  

According to Juba league chief, Ziaur Rahman's parliament issued an indemnity ordinance saying that those involved in the heinous murder could not be prosecuted. The murderers were given jobs in various embassies of Bangladesh, two murderers were given membership in the national parliament by vote rigging.

Even by forming a political party with the murderers, they gave an opportunity to be elected as presidential candidates. Not caring the constitution, democracy and even army law Zia started the politics of murder, coup and conspiracy in independent Bangladesh, he added.

He furthered, “Not only that, the hands of this Ziaur Rahman are stained with the blood of numerous freedom fighter army officers including Sheikh Jamal. So when Ziaur Rahman's BNP leaders talk about democracy and human rights, they should be ashamed and apologize to the people of this country for their injustice and cheating the nation.”

Parash presided over the meeting while presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League Colonel (Retd.) Muhammad Farooq Khan was present as the chief guest. Eminent journalist Abed Khan was also present as a special guest at the program conducted by Md Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, General Secretary of Juba League.