The discussion was organised by Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of its leader Jahanara Imam at WVA auditorium in the city.

"Though the civil society has demanded the trial of war criminals time and again, the politicians who assumed the state power by turn, have invariably failed to bring the human rights violators to justice," said Prof Muntasir Mamun.

Prof Borhanuddin Khan Jahangir said none of the governments, who successively came to power, wanted to try the war criminals.

Shyamoli Nasrin said neither of the country's two major political parties would try the war criminals as it would jeopardise their vested interest.

Both the Awami League and the 11-Party will have to pledge in their election manifesto that they would try the war criminals if voted to power, said the acting president of Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir.

Former Justice KM Sobhan said, "One of the foremost reasons behind the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was his effort to try the war criminals."

Advocate Sultana Kamal said as war crime is a violation against humanity, it has to be tried from that viewpoint.

The Nirmul Committee awarded Justice K M Sobhan and Ain O Salish Kendra memorial crests for their contribution to the protection of human rights in the country.

National Professor Kabir Chowdhury presided over the discussion.