DHAKA: Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui Saturday came to the rescue of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, from wide-scale criticisms for wrongdoings as he said BCL is not involved in extortion and tender manipulation.

Siddiqui, also AL presidium member, rather hit back at the media and also Barrister Rafiqul Haq for blaming the student wing of his party for involvement in extortion and tender terrorism.  

“The owners of the media do not speak against the war criminals. They had supported the heroes of the 1/11 episode in return for benefits,” the senior ruling-party leader said in a swinging criticism while addressing a discussion meeting organized by Awami Sangskritik Forum at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium.

Latif Siddiqui particularly criticized the photojournalists of electronic media, alleging that they do not broadcast news items without largesse.

Coming down heavily on the senior Supreme Court lawyer, Barrister Rafiqual Haq, the minister alleged he takes benefits from all—be it Awami League or BNP. “He doesn’t hesitate to help war-criminal Jamaat leaders,” said an outspoken Siddiqui.   

Mentioning that the Chhatra League had to suffer a lot of repression for seven during the past seven years, he urged the members of BCL to put an end to the current spell of infighting.   
 
Expressing firmness of the government regarding trial of the war criminals, Latif Siddiqui said the government would stage the trial of the war criminals and crimes against humanity at all costs.

With Forum president Miju Ahmed in the chair, the discussion meeting, styled “Trial of War Criminals and Building Resistance against Activities of National Development,” was also addressed, among others, by Abdul Haq Sabuj and MA Karim.

BDST/ 1314, JULY 10, 2010