They stressed the need for an 'action plan' to punish the war criminals who tortured and killed people, including women and members of the minority communities, during the War of Liberation.

They also criticised the previous governments for not taking any steps to try the war criminals.

They hailed Army Chief Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed for his assurance that he would raise the issue of prosecution of war criminals in government circles, during his address to freedom fighters on March 27.

Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the discussion at Bilia auditorium in the city.

"Thirty-six years have passed after independence. But it is a shame on the nation that we still could not try the war criminals. The present caretaker government can take initiatives in this regard through issuing a government order," said former army chief Lt Gen (Retd) Mustafizur Rahman.

Former army chief Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah said it is time to bring the war criminals to justice.

"I hope Army Chief Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed will take steps in this regard immediately and we all will support him," he added.

Prof Kabir Chowdhury said the caretaker government should incorporate the life and works of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam into textbooks so that the younger generations can know about real heroes of the nation.

Shaheed Janani (mother of a martyr) Jahanara Imam spearheaded a campaign in 1992 to bring the war criminals to justice and ban religion-based politics in the country, he said.

Former army chief Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-ur-Rashid, Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker, Justice KM Sobhan, former secretary Waliur Rahman, Shyamoli Nasreen Chowdhury, Ferdousi Priyobhashini and writer and journalist Shahrier Kabir also spoke.