The Sector Commanders Forum (SCF), a platform of the war heroes, would pursue the government to begin trial process of war criminals before the next Independence Day, to celebrate the day with a hope that war criminals are going to be punished.

The Sector Commanders' Forum also demanded reactivation of International War Crime (Tribunal) Act 1973 to try the war criminals which was one of the major pre-election pledges of the ruling party Awami League-led grand alliance.

Talking to The Bangladesh Today, they urged the government to set up an office of chief prosecutor or to form a special commission to try the war criminals involving international organisations to ensure a transparent and acceptable trial.

"It's a truth that the whole nation desperately wants trial of the war criminals, and if it cannot be done, our independence and sovereignty will remain unguarded. If the government revives the International War Crime (Tribunal) Act 1973, it would help to try the war criminals and United Nations can play a role as an observer to ensure transparency and neutrality of the trial process," said Major General (retd) KM Safiullah. He said it is not possible to try the war criminals under the existing laws.

Asked how they would pursue the government, he said, "We are not setting any time limit, rather we will keep continuous pressure on the government to start the trial process immediately as per its poll pledge."

He said, "We have evidences in our hands which is enough to try them (war criminals). We will show reports on war crimes published in different dailies during liberation war. Besides, there are a lot of victims who lost their near and dear ones in the hands of war criminals who in association with the Pakistani soldier killed hundreds of people."

"The immediate past caretaker regime also pledged to bring the war criminals under trial process, but they did not keep their word," the war hero said adding, "If the government does not keep its pledge, the people will sort out everything."

Lieutenant General (retd) Harun-Or-Rashid, another member of the forum, said the forum strictly believes that the AL-led alliance government would try the war criminals to uphold the principles of the Independence War.

"The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina already sought cooperation from the United Nations to try the war criminals. Besides, in the inaugural session of 9th parliament, President Iajuddin Ahmed also laid emphasise on bringing war criminals under trial. So these are the indications of beginning of the trial process," he said.

He also said the International War Crime Tribunal Act 1973 is sufficient to try war criminals and involvement of international organizations including United Nations can ensure transparency and neutrality of the trial process.

Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent, SCF Coordinator Anwar Kabir said the forum requested the government to begin the trial process before next Independence Day.

He said, "If the government revives the repealed collaborator Act-1972, it is possible to punish the war criminals. As public opinion is in favor of trial of war criminals, so the government should immediately start the trial process to bring the war criminals to book."

The SCF would continue their movement demanding immediate trial of the war criminals, he said.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said the repealed Collaborators Act has nothing to do with obstructing the trial and punishment of the war criminals and such trial will obviously take place as per election manifesto of the ruling party.

"Collaborators Act and War Criminals Act are not same things. The nation wants punishment to the war criminals. War criminals are those who joined as auxiliary force in committing murder, rape and arson attacks. So, the repealed Collaborators Act will not obstruct trial process." said law minister.

About some options in trial procedure, he said if trial is held under International War Criminal Act 1973, a tribunal has to be set up. "As the above law remains in force, it is not a problem to constitute a tribunal conforming to the underlying procedures," he added.

First the Home Ministry will have to take initiative by sending a proposal to the Law Ministry for taking step to constitute a tribunal and then Law Ministry will communicate this proposal to the Supreme Court which will actually constitute the tribunal and appoint judges there.