BANGLADESH

he home minister has claimed that the main opposition's Mar 12 rally in Dhaka is aimed at 'saving war criminals', so the government will 'thwart' the bid 'peacefully.'

"They (BNP) will not succeed at any cost," Shahara Khatun, also a ruling Awami League's presidium member, vowed while speaking at a massive human chain programme organised by the 14-party Grand Alliance on Tuesday.

The human chain, stretching from one end of the capital to the other, was formed to protest what they called "conspiracy to foil war crimes trial and throttle democracy".

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia declared the programme 'to topple the government' from a rally at Chittagong on Jan 9.

Joining hands around 3pm, the ruling coalition supporters formed the chain from Gabtoli to Jatrabari, lasting over an hour.

It stretched through Shyamoli, Asad Gate, Russell Square, Panthapath, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, National Press Club, Noor Hossain Square, Gulistan, Tikatuli and Sayedabad.

"BNP declared the Mar 12 programme to save war criminals. But, they will not succeed at any cost. On that day, our leaders and activists will peacefully keep them [the opposition] off the streets," Shahara said taking part in the programme at Gabtoli.

Syed Ashraful Islam, the LGRD minister and Awami League general secretary, had earlier announced the decision to form the 12-kilometre human chain between Gabtali bus terminal and Jatrabari crossing. The decision was taken at a meeting of the leaders of the 14-party alliance at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi on Jan 29, he had said.

Ashraful had said that the human chain is an attempt to raise voice against a "conspiracy" at home and abroad to foil the trial of war criminals.

Among those who attended the meeting on Jan 29 were Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president Hasanul Haque Inu, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon and party member Shirin Akther, Ganotantri Party leader Nurur Rahman Selim, Samyabadi Dal leader Harun Chowdhury and NAP leader Ismail Hossain.

An Awami League media release earlier in the said the party's leaders would take part in the human chain programme at different points of the city on Tuesday.

Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam, party's present chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, its secretary-general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, central executive committee member Delwar Hossain Sayedee, and assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Quader Molla are facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed during the 1971 war.

They are all currently behind bars.

Facing similar charges, senior BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury is also in jail, pending trial, while former member of late president Ziaur Rahman's cabinet Abdul Alim is out on conditional bail.

The government formed the International Crimes Tribunal, lawyers' panel and an investigation committee on Mar 25 last year to try those involved in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.