Editorial
Leakage of ICT verdict
A serious professional lapse
THE admission by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)s spokesperson on Wednesday that parts of draft of the verdict on SQ Chowdhury might have been leaked a few days before it was delivered by the tribunal is highly disconcerting. This is so even if the leaked version of the draft copy may not be the same as the final form in which the verdict was delivered.
What has happened reflects serious lack of professionalism in matters of handling confidentiality of an important material.
Given the sensitivity of the war crimes cases, it should not have happened at all. Since, however, this involves the sanctity and integrity of a legal process, no quarters, political or otherwise, should take unfair advantage of it.
But the way the BNP is casting aspersion on or questioning the process and the judgement is objectionable and unacceptable.
We are particularly distraught by BNP's tendency to take the slightest opportunity to question the ICT's trial process.
It's no doubt a serious lapse occurring through the cracks of an ill-guarded system. This must be thoroughly gone into and those responsible for the leakage should be exposed, held to account and punished.
We would like to emphasise that especially after the Skype scandal, the ICT administration should have been, by all means, on guard against any deliberate attempt at bringing the judicial process into disrepute. This could have averted such an entirely avoidable slippage.
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