'Initiate trial of war criminals in special tribunal'

Leaders of Citizens' Commission on Trial of War Criminals yesterday called for initiating the trial by forming a special tribunal as per International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973.
They made the call during a meting with Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed in the city.
The commission leaders said the law enacted in 1973 is of international standard and Bangladesh does not need to seek help from the United Nations or any other international organisation.
They also added that International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 is secured by article 47 (Ga), and going against this act is not only going against the trial of war criminals but also going against the Constitution.
The commission also placed before the law minister a 10-point recommendation on the method of constituting the tribunal and its judges, lawyers and investigation teams including the management of its office.
The recommendations also included appointment of three judges equivalent to the status of a Supreme Court judge, appointment of prosecutors, setting up of a war crime inquiry and investigation authority headed by an incumbent or former additional police commissioner or a person of same status, setting up of a library for preservation of documents regarding war crime, and appointment of staffs for the tribunal.
The commission also submitted a sample of an information collection form which would be used to collect information about crimes committed by a war criminal.
The law minister told the leaders of the Citizens' Commission that the government would form a special tribunal soon as per the proposal adopted in parliament for the trial of war criminals.
Led by the Commission Chairman Justice Mohammad Golam Rabbani, the members of the delegation included Prof Kabir Chowdhury, former secretary Waliur Rahman, Prof Ajay Roy, Prof Mahfuza Khanam, Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, Ferdousi Priobhashini, Shahriar Kabir, Prof Muntasir Mamun and Barrister Tania Ameer, member-secretary of the commission.