Legal experts brush aside BNP's demand

Leading legal experts have brushed aside the main opposition BNP's demand for closing the proceedings of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), saying that without pinpointing a reason in its support, raising such a demand is politically motivated.
“It is merely a demand with a political motive,” Dr Shahdeen Malik said adding that without giving any explanation from a legal point of view, a demand for stopping trial of all war criminals is political.
“Moudud didn't specify when, where, how and which clause of the ICT Act conflicts with the constitution and international law," he noted.
AFM Mesbahuddin Ahmed, ex-president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, termed Moudud's demand unreasonable, unconstitutional and politically motivated.
Referring to the chairman of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, Dr Mizanur Rahman, Mesbahuddin said the ICT fulfils all international requirements.
“In case of such crimes, other countries usually do not have any appeal provision, but in the ICT Act there is a provision to challenge the verdict of the ICT in the Appellate Division,” he added.
Former law minister and Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Matin Khasru said in different countries there is a lot of evidence for holding such trials even after a decade.
He said Moudud raised this demand to appease a certain quarter and protect their interest. The accused are getting all legal facilities, he added.