A group of 41 eminent citizens has issued a statement protesting a condolence motion in the 13th National Parliament that included names of individuals convicted of war crimes, committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

The statement, issued today, said the first session of the parliament, after independence, was conducted with the pledge to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War.

“Sadly, that tradition is not reflected in today’s parliament. Instead, individuals accused of crimes against humanity have misrepresented the Liberation War and created a narrative that dishonours the nation,” it read.

“The condolence motion for convicted war criminals in the parliament is completely unacceptable. We express our strongest protest against this insult to the Liberation War,” the statement said.

The statement further said that honouring those who opposed the birth of the nation and committed atrocities is the ultimate insult to the sacrifices of three million martyrs and mothers and sisters who suffered unimaginable loss.

“This is a deliberate attempt to question the spirit of the Liberation War and the foundation of a secular Bangladesh. We also fear that attempts are underway to erase the memory of 1971 under the guise of political agenda,” it read.

The group called for immediate action to remove the controversial section from the parliamentary records. “We urge that parliament and other state institutions never allow such moves again.”

The signatories of the statement include academician Prof Abu Yusuf; poets Nirmalendu Goon, Henry Swapon, Shahed Kayes, Manik Bairagi, Sanjib Purohit, and Rais Mukul; researcher and journalist Enayet Kabir; writer and filmmaker Sahadat Russell; and writer Piyush Kanti Barua.