Awami League is being tried under a law it made itself, and the July-August killings will be tried on this soil, Mir Shahe Alam says

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said the Awami League's trial proceedings are now being conducted under the crimes against humanity law that was made during the previous government's own tenure. He said the trial of the killings committed in July-August will be ensured on the soil of this country.

He made the remarks on Thursday (November 12) at noon as chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Bogura Television Reporters Unity at Hotel Mom Inn in Bogura.

The state minister said journalists should refrain from publishing misleading news about rumours of the politically banned organisation and fugitive individuals returning to the country. In his words: 'Many say passports are being issued, or that such-and-such a person is returning. I only want to remind you of one law — the law that the banned organisation Awami League itself made.'

Mir Shahe Alam said Section 47(A) of the crimes against humanity law clearly states that a person accused of crimes against humanity will not receive the privileges of an ordinary citizen. He said: 'They themselves made a law curtailing their own rights. Today they have fallen into the trap of that very law.'

He said the government and the opposition in parliament are united on the question of fascism.

The state minister said that, under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, work is under way to reintroduce the self-reliant village government system alongside the existing five tiers of local government.

He said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman first established village government in 1976. Later, in 2003, Begum Khaleda Zia enacted the self-reliant village government law, which was repealed in 2009. Once the system is relaunched, minor disputes in villages can be settled locally, he said.

At the ceremony, a total of 14 people were honoured for special contributions to journalism — eight posthumously and six with lifetime honours.

The posthumous honours went to Amanullah Khan, Jahidur Rahman Jadu, Khandakar Abdur Rahim, Rabiul Haq Khan, Sheikh Mahbub Hossain Limon, Abdur Rauf Jalal, Kamalesh Mohanta Shanu and Iqbal Murshed Ripon. The lifetime honours went to Poshimur Rahman, Mir Sajjad Ali Santosh, Abdur Rahim Bogra, Matiul Islam Sadi, Chapal Kanti Saha and Atikur Rahman Suman.