It is a bad idea

GOING by media reports, we are taken aback that some prosecutors and other officials of the international crimes tribunal are seeking to become AL candidates in the upcoming general election. Though there is no legal bar for anyone to seek candidacy, the issue is elsewhere. Ever since the tribunals were formed and tasked with the job of trying those accused of having committed crimes against humanity during the liberation war, the proceedings have not been above controversy. One of the charges leveled against the war crimes trial process that it is a politically-motivated move by the incumbent to weaken the opposition. Hence, these officials should not seek to contest in polls nor the Awami League-led alliance should entertain such requests.
There is the question of ethics and principles that investigators and prosecutors are supposed to imbibe in order to protect the image of the tribunal. Any move by them to contest the election can only help tarnish the image of the tribunal. Given the sensitivity of the trials, the tribunals must be kept above all controversy. As stated before, the tribunal has had its share of controversies during its tenure and detractors have been pointing fingers at the integrity of the process. There is no need to give the detractors any handle to draw the tribunal into further controversy. We hope that good sense will prevail and they will desist from taking part in the election.