The statement, made by British legal expert Steven Kay QC, that the war crimes act opted by Bangladesh falls short of international standard is misleading, mala fide and baseless.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said this to reporters after a meeting with M Vakur Erkul, Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh, at his secretariat office yesterday.
On Wednesday, Steven Kay reportedly told a seminar that the International Crimes Tribunal Act is not up to international standard, as it includes no provision of appeal and self-defence by the accused.
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) organised the seminar in a city hotel.
The law minister said there is no question for confusion about the standard of the Act.
Any accused of war crimes can appoint lawyers and cross-examine the accusers and witnesses for self-defence, he said. And any convict can appeal in the highest court against the verdict of conviction.
The minister said foreign observers can monitor the trial of war crimes, which will keep up international standard.
He said the constitution, with restored articles following the Supreme Court verdict on the fifth amendment, will be sent to BG Press within a week for its reprinting. The law ministry officials have already started the process for reprinting.
The Election Commission can cancel the registration of those political parties whose activities, ideology and intension are against the spirit of the constitution of the country, added the law minister.