Staff Reporter :
The number of International Crimes Tribunal [ICT] will be one. Now there are two tribunals: ICT-1 and ICT -2. The decision will be implemented soon.
“In present context, there is no need of two tribunals, one tribunal is enough. This decision will be executed very soon,” Law Minister Anisul Haq said on Thursday.
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has already completed the preliminary task in this regard and a project proposal has been sent to Prime Minister’s Office for final approval after selecting chairman and other judges of the lone tribunal, Ministry sources said.
Meanwhile, the two tribunals [ICT-1 and ICT-2] had amended some rules keeping provision that one could continue trial if another one is not existed.
Besides, the remaining ICT could take necessary action to execute verdict of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Already gazette notification has been served in this regard.
The ICT was first constituted by the Awami League government in 2010 to try the criminals involved in crimes against humanity during Liberation War in 1971. Later, the ICT-2 was constituted in 2012 when volume of cases increased.
So far, 21 cases of crimes against humanity have been dissolved in the ICTs. At present, the two tribunals have only six cases in hand. So, the government thinks one tribunal is enough at present stage to deal with the pending cases.
Prosecutor of ICT Barrister Tureen Afroz, however, differed with the view. “There may be backlog of cases if the number of ICT becomes one,” she said.
