They said the failure of successive governments to bring the war criminals to trial has empowered them politically, and they are now trying to confuse the young generation by distorting the history of the liberation war.

The discussion on 'War Crime: Experience of Japan and China and the movement of Jahanara Imam' was organised by Ekatturer Ghatok Dalal Nirmool Committee to mark the 76th birth anniversary of Jahanara Imam at the WVA Auditorium in the city.

"The mankind will never get rid of the curse of war if we forgive the war criminals, " said Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the committee.

Referring to a proposal of the European Union on the war criminals of 1971, he said it has created an opportunity for the pro-liberation forces in the country to move the issue and pave the way to take it to the international court.

"We have recently observed that a powerful country like Japan has begged pardon of China for not putting the history of China-Japan war in the Japanese text books accurately, but we have never inquired of what Pakistan has written on the liberation war of 1971," Kabir said.

He blasted the United States for mass killings in Iraq, and said its agreement with 50 countries for taking no action against any American citizen for war crimes is an agreement against the humanity.

Paying tributes to Jahanara Imam for her relentless efforts to route out the war criminals from the society, Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Razzak said the trial of the war criminals has now become imperative.

Calling upon all to launch a movement against the war criminals, he said the 'historic mistake' couldn't be continued. "We shall have to suffer a lot in the long run if we do not take immediate steps to correct it," he added.

"Not only our culture, but also our political freedom will be at stake if the enemies of the liberation war remain in power," Razzak said.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Mahbub-e-Alam said the pro-liberation forces failed to unite, while the pro-Islamic political parties have been able to unite and enhance their financial and political power.

Presided over by the President of the Advisory Committee of Ekatturer Ghatok Dalal Nirmool Committee Prof Kabir Chowdhury, the discussion was also participated by Justice KM Sobhan, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Huq Inu, Women's Voice General Secretary Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, and women activist Hena Das.