Govt gives nod to sector commanders’ convention

The government yesterday gave permission for the Sector Commanders' Forum (SCF) to hold national convention at Bangladesh China Friendship Convention Centre tomorrow.
The SCF planned the convention in order to mobilise public support for trial of the war criminals in the country.
"Finally we got the permission to hold the much-awaited national convention of freedom fighters and pro-liberation organisations," Maj Gen (retd) M Masudur Rahman, organising secretary of the SCF, told The Daily Star last night.
"The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner gave us the permission in a letter provided that we abstain from giving any provocative speech at the convention and do not display any banner, placard, and similar things outside the building," he said, adding that they accepted the conditions.
The SCF on March 18 vowed to carry on with their plan to hold the national convention on March 21 after their earlier bid was thwarted as authorities did not give them permission to assemble.
The commanders at the time warned that if the authorities obstruct them on their way to the Bangladesh China Friendship Convention Centre on March 21, they would hold the meeting at the place they are stopped.
Meanwhile, different organisations including the Communist Kendra and the Sammilita Samajik Andolan expressed solidarity with the SCF programme.