Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said that the cases which were ongoing on the charges of crimes against humanity committed during the liberation war will continue under the amended law. He said this in a press conference at the prosecution office on Monday. The press conference was held to highlight the amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024.
Amendments have been brought to the International Criminal Tribunal Act to prosecute crimes against humanity such as the July-August massacre and the disappearances and murders committed during the Awami League government. The Ministry of Law published it in the form of gazette last Sunday.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said this amendment was brought in the interest of justice and to maintain international standards of justice. This amendment has been brought to address the weaknesses in the law and the questions that were raised about the law internationally. No member of the armed forces could be prosecuted under the Act earlier. Now, in the amended law, members of the disciplinary force or the three forces have been added to the police, RAB, BGB, intelligence agencies and Ansar forces.
Prosecutor Tamim said earlier the prosecution could have given limited documents to the defence. Now, with the permission of the court, you can get any documents you want. Earlier during the hearing, the accused had to list all his witnesses. Now the defense can present the witness in the tribunal at any time of the trial. As per the amended Act, the offense of disappearance can be tried in this tribunal. Apart from this, there was no provision for compensation to the victim in the previous law, but it has been kept in the amended law. Compensation can be paid to the victim if the offender has assets, or from the state.
The prosecutor said, if at any stage of the trial it is understood that the charges against the accused do not fall under this law, then the tribunal can send it to the regular court. Apart from this, as there are other laws, no provision has been made in this law to bring political parties or organizations under justice.
