Drum up int'l support for trial: speakers

Despite complications in international laws, the genocide on Myanmar's Rohingya people could be tried in light of customary international laws, and Bangladesh government should accelerate its efforts for international support, speakers at a symposium said yesterday.

Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (Bilia) organised the events at its office in the capital.

Presided over by Prof Rahmat Ullah, dean of the faculty of law at Dhaka University (DU), Muhammad Mustafa Hossain, assistant professor of Brac University and Quazi Omar Foysal, an independent researcher, presented two keynote papers in the programme.

Researchers and experts from different government and non-government organisations, and students and teachers from different universities participated in the symposium.

Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul, prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal, said, “The United Nations has termed it persecution, not genocide, in their 442 page report… That is a big restriction of the application of genocide convention.”

However, all four elements of crimes which are enough to term the atrocities as “genocide” have been committed, he added.

Myanmar has put reservations to Articles VI and VII of “The convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”, which has also created some complexities, Barrister Tapas said.

Instead of a singular affiliation, Bangladesh and international communities should be advocating more for justice based on other “propositions” of international law, he suggested.

In his keynote paper, Muhammad Mustafa Hossain highlighted jurisdictions in different international laws and conventions.

He said, “Despite complexities in international jurisdiction, the persons involved in Rohingya genocide could be brought under justice as per the extra-territorial jurisdiction under Articles I and IX of Geneva Convention.”

Shahadat Hossain, assistant professor of Bangladesh Islamic University, said, “As there are regional players involved, Bangladesh can arrange thorough dialogues involving China and India.”

In his keynote paper, Quazi Omar Foysal described on how such challenges may be overcome.

In his closing speech, Prof Rahmat Ullah said, “We cannot blame geo-politics. It's part of international politics. But reality should never ignore the rights of people. If a nation state fails, the international community should come forward to ensure justice.”

“I would like to urge the Bangladesh government to raise and pursue the way by which we can get compensation as well as solution to the Rohingya crisis. Otherwise, Bangladesh will suffer,” he said.

Dr SM Masum Billah, faculty of law department of Jagannath University; Taqbir Huda, research specialist of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust; and Tapos Kumar Das, assistant professor of law at Jahangirnagar University, among others, spoke on the occasion.