Pro-BNP, Jamaat lawyers threaten to resist trial of war criminals

16 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Justice TH Khan speaks at a seminar titled 'Legality of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973' at a city hotel yesterday. On his left is Justice Abdur Rouf and on his right are Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar. Photo: STAR

Pro-BNP and Jamaat lawyers at a seminar yesterday threatened to resist the trial of war criminals if it is carried out with 'political motive'. They also said there is no need to hold such a trial as they think the principal offenders - 195 Pakistani soldiers - had been released after the liberation war. They termed the International War Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 a 'blackest and heinous' law and asked the government to bring necessary changes to the law to meet international standards. They also demanded reconstitution of the tribunal and the prosecution teams. The National Forum for Protection of Human Rights, a pro-Jamaat platform, organised the seminar titled 'Legality of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973' at a city hotel. Justice Abdur Rouf presided over the seminar while BNP chairperson's advisory council member Justice TH Khan and BNP standing committee member Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar attended the seminar as the chief guest and special guest respectively. A huge number of BNP and Jamaat-backed lawyers were present. Justice Abdur Rouf said, "There will be chaos if a farcical trial is held and you [government] will not be spared for that." "Don't do anything that will put you on the dock," he told the tribunal formed to try war crimes. Justice TH Khan said it would be a farce in the name of justice if the trial is held under the International Crimes (Tribunals) act 1973 as each of its sections is full of blunder and does not conform to the international standard. He alleged propaganda is being spread by using public sentiment regarding trial of war criminals. Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar said there is no need to hold trial of war criminals as the main offenders, for whom the International Crimes (tribunals) Act 1973 was enacted, had been released. The former speaker said justice will not be ensured if the law amended by the present parliament is not reviewed. He also suggested abolishing death penalty. Supreme Court Bar Association President Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said no law can be more heinous than the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Act 2009 as each of its provisions contradicts the rule of law. "People and lawyers will resist if the trial is held with political intention," he warned the government and said abettors cannot be tried without ensuring trial of principal offenders. Emphasising national consensus to try the war criminals, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Emajuddin Ahmed asked the government to reconstitute the tribunal and prosecution teams. He also said the trial must be transparent and acceptable to all. Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Barrister Abdur Razzak said they cannot imagine a darker law than the amended act to try war criminals. BNP leaders Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokan MP, Adv Zainul Abedin and Adv Salaullah Mian also spoke.