Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought all-out support and solidarity of the international community towards Bangladesh’s initiative for holding the trial of war criminals to establish truth and justice.

“I hope the world Bangalee community will carry out their duty to this end,” she told the inaugural function of the First International Bengali Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.

Renowned British poet and researcher on Bangla language and culture William Radecchi spoke as special guest at the event, organised by London-based Bengali International.

President of the organisation, Md Shamsul Haque, and Dr Benu Bhushan Chowdhury, among others, also spoke at the function. Cultural personality Nasir Uddin Yusuf Bachchu gave the welcome address.

Addressing the function as chief guest, the prime minister said the entire nation is indebted to three million martyrs and uncountable number of oppressed people of the Liberation War for holding the trial of the war criminals.

She said the present government brought the war criminals under the purview of law in line with its election pledge, as it was a popular demand during the last general elections.

The prime minister said that her government wants continuation of the democratic process in the country in a bid to ensure proper nurturing of the Bengali language and culture.

She mentioned that in the last three years, some 5,500 elections including Union Parishad, Upazila Parishad and municipality were held in the country, and none could raise any complaint even against one such election.

“We’ve strengthened the Election Commission and there was no interference from the government,” she claimed.

Hasina said her government has been able to introduce a fair electoral process in the country, as its goal is to ensure basic and constitutional rights of the people.

She said: “Bangali, Bangla and Bangladesh are tied with a single string and are complementary to each other. A nation, a language and a country in one — is a rare example in the world. It is our unique characteristic and pride.”

The premier went on saying that the Bangali nation had proved their strength 60 years ago through establishing its right of language in exchange of blood.

The great language movement had led to the flourishing of a non-communal spirit, and the people of all religions, caste and creed forged unity with the identity of Bengali language and culture, she said.

Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh emerged as a language-based independent country through the partitioning of British India in 1947, the Language Movement in 1952, and the Liberation War in 1971 under the stewardship of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She said Bangabandhu, who braved many obstacles, used to say ‘I am a Bangali, and the realisation of the rights of Bangalis is my dream’.

“And under his firm leadership the Bangali nation stood up with their heads held high in 1971,” said Hasina, the eldest daughter of Mujib.

The premier said it was unfortunate for the nation that the assassination of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members in 1975 led to the emergence of anti-liberation forces in the country. “Secular and non-communal spirit of the constitution was removed and militancy created through misinterpretation of Islam,” she lamented.

Hasina said the spirit of the Liberation War got back the constitutional recognition as her government restored the non-communal and secular spirit of the constitution through necessary amendments.

She recalled the contribution of all expatriate Bengalis in all achievements of the nation including establishing February 21 as the International Mother Language day.

She said the litterateurs and historians at home and abroad portrayed the characteristics of Bengalis in different ways — an emotional Bengali is as soft as clay, but also firm and courageous, ready to make supreme sacrifice for the nation in times of need.

The premier said the Bengali nation had not retreat during the Pakistani military rule in 1958, and the unique role that Bangabandhu played for realising the democratic rights has become a glorious chapter in the history of national freedom movement of the Third World.

“Bangladesh and Bengali society flourished in different ways over the 40 years of independence. There is a huge number of immigrant and expatriate Bengalis, and there are both challenges and opportunities.”

“I hope the Bishwa Bangali Samaj (international Bengali community) will be able to turn these challenges into opportunity,” she said, adding that the present government was trying to establish Bangla as one of the official languages of the United Nations.

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