Parliament: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh is gradually getting rid of a long time curse and advancing economically with execution of the verdicts against the war criminals.

‘I think execution of the verdicts of the war criminals has brought a great solace for those who have long been living with biting pains after losing their near and dear ones during the War of Liberation,’ she said in her concluding speech at the end of the 8th session of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad.

Sheikh Hasina said the country would not be freed from the decades-old curse if the trial of the 1971 culprits, who committed crimes against the humanity during the War of Liberation, is not finished.

‘I think the country is being freed from that curse with implementation of the court judgments,’ she said, adding Bangladesh is economically advancing and witnessing development due to the gradual freedom form that curse.

In this connection, the Leader of the House said there is no limit of the offences the war criminals committed during the War of Liberation. ‘Children, women, intellectuals-none could escape from their brutality and atrocities,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said her government has completed the trial of the killing of Bangbanadhu and the four national leaders. ‘In the same way, we have launched the trial of the war criminals, which military dictator Ziaur Rahman halted after the assassination of Bangabandhu, and execution of the verdicts,’she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated the trial of the war criminals and in this connection he promulgated an ordinance and constituted tribunals.