Govt set to seek SC directives
The government yesterday finalised a reference seeking the Supreme Court's opinion on whether those charged with February 25-26 BDR mutiny and carnage should be tried under the civil code or military law.
The reference would be sent to the President on August 16 from where it would be forwarded to the SC for its directives on under which law the trial of the BDR mutiny and carnage cases would be held, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said.
After a meeting with the officials concerned on sending the reference to the SC, he told the press that the incident can be tried under the BDR Act, Army Act or conventional laws.
As there are some shortcomings in the BDR Act and conventional laws for trying such savagery in which 73 people including 66 army officials were killed, the government has decided to go for SC opinion to determine the law.
In response to a question he said there is no shortcoming in the Army Act in trying the accused. The government would follow the SC guidelines to avoid any question or dispute on the issue.
He hoped that the apex court would give its decision soon after the submission of the reference.
The full court of the Appellate Division comprising all its 11 judges can make the decision on the issue after hearing arguments from senior legal experts or the court itself can decide without any hearing, he said, adding that it depends on the court.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Additional Attorney General Murad Reza, secretaries to the law, defence and home ministries, and representatives from the Armed Forces Division attended the meeting.
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