Shawdesh Desk:

Information adviser Mahfuj Alam has called for a political reckoning over the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War, urging war crimes collaborators to issue a formal apology and declaring there can be no forgiveness for the Mujibist left.

His comments came in a Facebook post hours after the government announced a ban on all Awami League activities — both offline and online — under the Anti-Terrorism Act, pending the completion of the International Crimes Tribunal’s trial of the party and its leadership.

‘The issue of 1971 must be resolved,’ Mahfuj wrote.

‘The collaborators of the war criminals must apologise. Anyone wishing to engage in politics in Bangladesh must abandon pro-Pakistan ideology. Pakistan committed genocide in this country,’ he said.

Referring to Pakistan’s role in the 1971 Liberation War, Mahfuj said, ‘Even if Pakistan officially apologises again, the local collaborators have yet to show any remorse. Attempts to justify or downplay the genocide must be brought to an end.’

He also warned against acts of internal sabotage within the forces associated with the July movement.

In the second part of his Facebook post, Mahfuj said ‘There is no forgiveness for the Mujibist left.’

‘They are the masterminds behind the League’s abductions and killings, and the massacre during the anti-Modi protests at Shapla Chattar. They are the Thirty-Sixth Division,’ he wrote.

Mahfuj claimed that despite engaging in despicable subservience during the time of July, they remain unscathed and in place.

‘To this day, the Mujibist lefts continue to betray the July movement both culturally and intellectually. Even from within the country, they conspire against the forces aligned with July,’ the Facebook post read.

He concluded his post with a warning: ‘These B-teams of the League will soon be defeated. There is no point in relying on someone else’s shoulder.’