Make ICT permanent

Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, addresses a press conference in the capital's Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday where they expressed their observations about the International Crimes Tribunals.Photo: STAR

Six organisations advocating for war crimes trial yesterday called for enacting a law to give the International Crimes Tribunal a permanent existence with administrative and financial autonomy and sought prime minister's intervention to this end.
"We demand a law to give the tribunals a permanent shape so that the tribunals can operate even after change of any government," said Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.
At a joint press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity, the organisations also urged the prime minister to ensure necessary manpower and other supports to the tribunal for its smooth functioning.
Expressing disappointment at the slow pace of the trial, they said timely completion of the trial would not be possible with the existing manpower and logistics.
"The trial procedure is going at snail pace. If it continues this way, we fear that trial of 10 war crimes suspects would not be completed by December 2013," said Shahriar Kabir.
There will be a serious national catastrophe if the trial is not completed by 2013, he said.
About shortage of manpower, Shahriar Kabir said that although 150 officials and employees were required in general division of the tribunal, it had only 15.
Moreover, most of the 15 lawyers appointed so far do not come to tribunal regularly as the salary and remuneration are insufficient.
Shahriar Kabir blamed law and home ministries for the slow pace saying the ministries failed to understand the challenges of the trial and considered it a criminal case.
He also expressed worries about the security of the entire tribunal.
"Nobody will notice if anyone plants anything dangerous at the tribunal compound…there is no security of the judges, lawyers, and investigating agency. The witnesses have no protection," he said.
The other organisers of the news conference include Antorjatik Oporadh Tribunal Shoyaok Mancha, Sector Commanders Forum '71, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Projonmo '71, and Udichi.