Bangladesh News

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said the government has taken initiatives to update the existing International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 for holding trial of war criminals on charge of committing offences against humanities during the liberation war in 1971.

“The International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 under which the war criminals to be tried should be updated for ensuring fairness and transparency of the trial. We have already referred the law to the Law Commission for expert opinion to update it,” he told a press briefing at his ministry.

The trial of war criminals will start after updating the act, he said adding that it would be published both in Bangla and English versions for maintaining international standard.

The minister, however, said there is no difficulty in carrying out investigation into the incidents of war crimes before amending the act.

He said the government is taking time to start the trial process as it is working for appointing an investigation agency and prosecution team, setting up court and office rooms as well as arranging other logistic supports in this regard. The tasks are near completion, he said.

Asked whether the government is targeting any political party in the name of trial of war criminals, the law minister said the government would not hold the trial considering anybody’s political identity.

Only those who were involved in the killings, arsons, rapes, lootings and offences against humanities during the liberation war will be brought under trial after carrying out investigation, he said.

He said if any political party opposes the government’s move to try war criminals, it will be considered that the war criminals are remaining in that party.

Replying to a question, Shafique said the government has been giving equal emphasis on both issues of Pilkhana carnage and trial of war criminals.

He also said the investigation into the BDR carnage is going on and after receiving its report, the government will decide under which law the mutineers will be tried.