War Crimes Trial

Single tribunal to be formed

The government has started the process of forming a new tribunal, which is likely to begin work from Sunday, according to law ministry sources. Justice Anwarul Haque, a member of the ICT-1, is likely to be appointed its chairman. “The move comes as the number of pending cases has come down,” law secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Zahirul Haque told The Independent yesterday (Thursday). A senior official of the law ministry said that in consultation with the Supreme Court, the law ministry sent a proposal to the Prime Minister's Office for approval. The PMO has approved the proposal and sent it to the President for his signature. "After getting the nod from the President, a gazette notification will be issued next week,” he added. He also said that a single tribunal will be active, while the other will not be abolished but kept inactive. It will become active in future to dispose of cases, if needed, he added. It was known that the government might appoint Justice Anwarul Haque as chairman of the new tribunal. Justice Md Shahinur Islam, who is currently working as a member of the ICT-2, may become part of the new tribunal. The other member will be taken from the High Court Division, and it will be either Justice Amir Hossain or Justice Suhrawardi, sources added.
The Awami League-led government formed the first tribunal on March 25, 2010, in line with the party's electoral pledge to try people who committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The second tribunal was formed on March 22, 2012, to expedite the war crime trials.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim heads the ICT-1 and its two members are Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Anwarul Haque. The ICT-2 is headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan and its two members are Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam.
The two tribunals have so far delivered verdicts against 21 persons in 19 cases of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Among those convicted for war crimes, 13 have filed appeals in the apex court challenging their death sentences. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has disposed of five out of the 13 cases before it. On July 30, it confirmed the death penalty awarded to BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

War Crimes Trial

Single tribunal to be formed

The government has started the process of forming a new tribunal, which is likely to begin work from Sunday, according to law ministry sources. Justice Anwarul Haque, a member of the ICT-1, is likely to be appointed its chairman. The move comes as the number of pending cases has come down, law secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Zahirul Haque told The Independent yesterday (Thursday). A senior official of the law ministry said that in consultation with the Supreme Court, the law ministry sent a proposal to the Prime Ministers Office for approval. The PMO has approved the proposal and sent it to the President for his signature. After getting the nod from the President, a gazette notification will be issued next week, he added. He also said that a single tribunal will be active, while the other will not be abolished but kept inactive. It will become active in future to dispose of cases, if needed, he added. It was known that the government might appoint Justice Anwarul Haque as chairman of the new tribunal. Justice Md Shahinur Islam, who is currently working as a member of the ICT-2, may become part of the new tribunal. The other member will be taken from the High Court Division, and it will be either Justice Amir Hossain or Justice Suhrawardi, sources added. The Awami League-led government formed the first tribunal on March 25, 2010, in line with the partys electoral pledge to try people who committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The second tribunal was formed on March 22, 2012, to expedite the war crime trials. Justice M Enayetur Rahim heads the ICT-1 and its two members are Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Anwarul Haque. The ICT-2 is headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan and its two members are Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam. The two tribunals have so far delivered verdicts against 21 persons in 19 cases of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Among those convicted for war crimes, 13 have filed appeals in the apex court challenging their death sentences. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has disposed of five out of the 13 cases before it. On July 30, it confirmed the death penalty awarded to BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.