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War Crimes Trial

Concern over law minister's statement

28 April 2010, 18:00 PM

METROPOLITAN

Staff Correspondent

Eight pro-BNP-Jamaat lawyers yesterday expressed concern over a statement made by Law Minister Shafique Ahmed on April 25 that the investigation agency would submit charge sheets against some persons for crimes against humanity within next month. In a joint statement, they said the law minister's statement blatantly interferes with the independent functioning of the investigation and prosecution agencies of the international crimes tribunal. Under section 9 of the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973, the proceedings before a tribunal will commence upon the submission by the chief prosecutor of formal charges, and the law minister has no role to play in it, the lawyers said. Meetings and discussions between the ministers and the chief prosecutor and the chief investigator, proved that the executive government is in full control over these agencies and consequently will exercise effective control over the trial, the statement added. Signatories to the statement are President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, former speaker to Jatiya Sangsad Jamiruddin Sircar, former ministers Moudud Ahmed and Rafiqul Islam Mia, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Barrister Abdur Razzaq, former state minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, former attorney general AJ Mohammad Ali and former SCBA secretary Zainul Abedin.