Govt thinking of law to seize war criminals' wealth: Anisul

Amidst growing demand for confiscation of convicted war criminals' wealth, Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the government was mulling over formulating a new law.

“People are demanding for taking steps about the properties...We are mulling taking steps following legal procedures...We will do it (begin the process) as early as possible,” he told a press briefing at his Bangladesh Secretariat office in the capital yesterday.

The demand, including distributing the confiscated wealth among families which fell victim during the 1971 Liberation War, has long been made by freedom fighters, martyrs' families and pro-liberation organisations, including Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

Two war crimes tribunals have so far delivered 26 judgements convicting 50 people, including 28 who were sentenced to death.

Anisul said steps regarding the properties can be taken by amending International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 or by formulating a new law.

Properties cannot be taken back though amendments in cases where it has already passed on to heirs following execution of war criminals, as per Muslim law, and so will require enactment of a new act, he said.

He said the government was amending the act so that organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, can be tried over crimes committed during the Liberation War. The lack of clear-cut provisions for punishment is considered a major obstacle to trying such organisations.

The amendment is now at cabinet division for approval, Anisul said, adding, “I have been telling this same thing for a long time...But do not be impatient. It will be done.”

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday told the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry that they were taking steps to ban Islami Chhatra Shibir “for anti-state, militant activities”.

In this regard, Anisul said, “I am holding discussions with the home minister over the matter on what needs to be done to ban their activities.”

On Supreme Court's letter to him for relocating International Crimes Tribunal from the Old High Court Building within October 31, he said, “A decision will be taken as per people's wish.”

If there is a difference between what the letter says and people's expectations, then “I will personally request the chief justice to establish people's expectations”, he added.