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Travel ban on Bangladesh suspects | Travel ban on Bangladesh suspects |
(3 days later) | |
The government of Bangladesh has banned people suspected of war crimes during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan from travelling abroad. | The government of Bangladesh has banned people suspected of war crimes during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan from travelling abroad. |
It says these people, who are accused of collaborating with Pakistani troops, will face war crime trials. | It says these people, who are accused of collaborating with Pakistani troops, will face war crime trials. |
Among them are leaders of the largest religious party Jamaat-i-Islami - a rival of the ruling Awami League. | Among them are leaders of the largest religious party Jamaat-i-Islami - a rival of the ruling Awami League. |
Critics say it is a ploy to destroy Jamaat-i-Islami, none of whose leaders has been charged with any crimes. | Critics say it is a ploy to destroy Jamaat-i-Islami, none of whose leaders has been charged with any crimes. |
But two party leaders have already been prevented from leaving Bangladesh. | But two party leaders have already been prevented from leaving Bangladesh. |
One of them told the BBC he had not been given any reason for this, and that the government was violating his fundamental rights. | One of them told the BBC he had not been given any reason for this, and that the government was violating his fundamental rights. |
'Last chance' | 'Last chance' |
The Awami League came to power in December, promising to tackle the issue which has haunted and divided Bangladesh since independence. | The Awami League came to power in December, promising to tackle the issue which has haunted and divided Bangladesh since independence. |
The new government says it wants to punish those who helped the Pakistan army's brutal attempt to hang on to what was then Pakistan's eastern province. | The new government says it wants to punish those who helped the Pakistan army's brutal attempt to hang on to what was then Pakistan's eastern province. |
The government says some three million civilians died and 200,000 women were raped. | The government says some three million civilians died and 200,000 women were raped. |
The Pakistan army was blamed for most atrocities. But local militias, some allegedly linked to the religious party, Jamaat-i-islami, were accused of helping them. | The Pakistan army was blamed for most atrocities. But local militias, some allegedly linked to the religious party, Jamaat-i-islami, were accused of helping them. |
Many collaborators were jailed, but the issue was quietly dropped as consecutive governments preferred not to reopen old wounds. | Many collaborators were jailed, but the issue was quietly dropped as consecutive governments preferred not to reopen old wounds. |
Awami League supporters say the government's pledge is the last chance for the generation which lived through the war to see justice. | Awami League supporters say the government's pledge is the last chance for the generation which lived through the war to see justice. |