BNP's statement a bid to protect war criminals

Says state minister

3 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam yesterday said the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the liberation war in 1971 are similar offences, and perpetrators of both types of crimes will be put on trial. Referring to a statement of BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the state minister said that he (Delwar) made such statements to protect the war criminals. At a press briefing on Friday, Delwar said the government should hold the trial of crimes against humanity under the existing Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, and there is no need for constituting special court or tribunal or any investigation team for this. Addressing a discussion organised by Bangabandhu Academy at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday, State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam said crimes such as murder, looting, arson, rape and abduction will be tried at the tribunal, which the government has formed recently under the International War Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973. Only the identified war criminals will be put on trial, he said, adding that the countrymen know very well who are the identified war criminals. Qamrul also said the government never termed Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed 'war criminals', but some Jamaat leaders said they would appeal to the higher court if they are sentenced to death on charges war crimes, which is tantamount to confessing the crimes. Hemayet Uddin, Bir Bikram, presided over the meeting, which was addressed by Awami League leaders Mohammad Nasim and Habibur Rahman Siraj.