Awami League presidium member and former Home Minister Mohammad Nasim today said the convicted killers of 1971 would be released if the BNP-Jamaat alliance could assume power in anyway.

"The identified war criminals will be released if BNP assumes power. They will turn Bangladesh again into a militant and Taliban state. So, Sheikh Hasina-led grand alliance should be voted to power again in the next election for execution of the verdict delivered against the war criminals," he said.

Nasim made this comment while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University in the capital. Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) organised the discussion marking the Democracy Confinement Day.

BCL President HM Badiuzzaman Shohag chaired the discussion,also addressed, among others, by Awami League joint general secretary and Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Vice-chancellor of the National University Dr Harun-ar-Rashid, former president of BCL Mahmud Hasan Ripon and former general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton, Awami Swechchasebak League organising secretaries Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu and Sajjad Sakib Badsha and BCL general secretary Siddiqui Nazmul Alam.

Nasim said, "If they (BNP-Jamaat) can come to power, all the killers of 1971 will be freed. So, we have to work relentlessly in the next four months to ensure Sheikh Hasina's return to power again."

Pointing at the opposition, he said there would not be any benefit in issuing any threat and the next election to the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) would be held under an interim government.

"The Awami League believes in democracy. It has completed polls to the five cities smoothly and credible election will also be organised in the coming days. There is no scope of rigging by bluffing the mass media now," the senior Awami League leader added.

Nasim, also the spokesman of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has honoured her commitments given to the people.

"To err is human, but the angels and the Satan don't commit any fault. So, we have to take lessons from our faults and flaws to march ahead," the senior AL leader said calling upon the leaders and workers of BCL to reach the success story of Sheikh Hasina government to every house across the country.

Nasim hailed the International Crimes Tribunal for handing down capital punishment to Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid for his crimes against humanity in 1971.

Ends/AMA/17/07/13