War Crimes Trial
Law to protect victims, witnesses stressed
Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the government to immediately formulate a law to protect victims and witnesses as its lack has slowed down International Crimes Trial (ICT) proceedings.
“Many witnesses, who gave deposition before investigation officers earlier, don't want to come to the court now because of a feeling of insecurity. As a result, the trial proceedings are being hampered”, said Justice Syed Amirul Islam.
Against this backdrop, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said the depositions, given before police and magistrate during the investigation, will be counted as testimony at the tribunal, if anyone becomes reluctant to show up in court.
The law minister also ruled out the notion of slow progress in the trial of war criminals.
The trial will be accomplished during the tenure of the present government, he said, and added the reasons that had slowed the trial process initially had been identified and resolved.
Samprodaikota-Jongibad Birodhi Mancha (SJBM), a pro-liberation body, organised a discussion on “Slow Pace in Trying War Criminals: Citizen's Anxieties” at Dhaka Reporters' Unity where they said this.
Earlier, a discussant of a left leaning political party at the programme pointed out the activities of a central Jamaat leader Mir Kashem who was allegedly involved in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
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