Bangladesh News

In line with its election pledges, the Awami League government has taken initiatives to try war criminals after long 37 years of the Liberation War.

Three ministers and the attorney general yesterday held a meeting on how to start the much-expected trial of war criminals who were involved in genocide in 1971 in collaboration with the Pakistani occupation forces.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed, Home Minister Sahara Khatun and State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam entrusted Attorney General Mahbube Alam with the task to examine the legal aspects of the procedure.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her maiden press conference immediately after her party won a resounding victory in the December 29 national election vowed to take immediate measurers to try the war criminals.

After taking the charge of her ministry, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni also talked to the foreign diplomats over the long-disputed issue of trying war criminals and sought their cooperation in this regard.

The government is also mulling over a plan to discuss the matter with the neighboring countries so that no obstacles are created in the way to bring war criminal to justice.

Talking to reporters the law minister said, “War criminals are those who worked as auxiliary forces of the then Pakistani occupation forces and committed crimes against humanity including killing, lootings, rapes, arson and forced people to leave the country.”

He said the International Crime Tribunal Act, 1973 is still in force, which has rules and procedures to try them. The law minister said a special tribunal would have to be formed if the war criminals were to be brought to book under the 1973 law.

“The government assumed its office only three to four weeks back; give us a little more time. The government, off course, will implement its electoral pledges,” said the law minister in response to a query about the time of the trial.

Sources at the meeting said the government would go for a fresh investigation to identify the war criminals with adequate proofs and documents.

The law minister said the home ministry would play the role of prosecutor in trying the war criminals. “Law ministry is ready to assist the home ministry to provide legal assistance,” said Shafique Ahmed.

Talking to The Daily Star State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj said, “The new generation has become aware of war criminals and our liberation war, which is why, people voted the Awami League to power.”

“And we will obviously take steps to try the war criminals,” said the home ministry spokesperson.

Meanwhile, appointment of two judges in the appellate division of the Supreme Court is in the pipeline to hear the appeal against the verdict of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman killing case.

“As per the people’s expectations we also want a quick trial of Bangabandhu killing case,” said State Minister for Law Adv Qamrul Islam.

Briefing the newsmen, the law minister, state minister for law and the attorney general said they would gradually appoint some honest and competent law officers.

Attorney general Mahbube Alam said, “We have not still finalised the number as well as appointments of law officers.” He said appointment of an additional attorney general is in the process.