Trial standards must be maintained for the court proceedings of the mass killings committed during the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement so that no one can question it, speakers opined during a view-exchange meeting.
Therefore, it is urgent to bring necessary amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973, under which mass killings will be prosecuted, speakers said.
Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Monday organised the programme under the banner of "View Exchange Meeting on Proposed Amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973" at the Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in the city.
Law Advisor Dr Asif Nazrul presided over the programme. Industries Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, LGED Advisor AF Hassan Ariff, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Chief Prosecutor of the ICT Tajul Islam, Head of the Electoral System Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Senior Advocate Barrister Sara Hossain, Journalist David Bergman, and former District Judge Ikteder Ahmed, among others gave speech at the event.
Earlier Md Golam Rabbani, secretary of the ministry, gave a welcome speech remembering the brave soldiers of the Liberation War in 1971 and the victims and survivors of the Anti Discrimination Students' Movement, while Ashfaqur Rahman, a senior assistant secretary to the ministry, presented eight-point proposed amendments to the law.
Law ministry's proposed amendments included a provision to ban the guilty political party for highest 10 years. The provision said, "Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, if any political organisation is found to have committed, aided, abetted, or facilitated the commission of any of the crimes under Section 3 of this Act, such organisation shall be subject to a ban for a period not exceeding ten years."
However, some of discussant opposed the proposal while some of them urged for a permanent ban for the guilty.
In his opinion, Dr Asif Nazrul, who also moderated the programme said, "Discussion on the legal reforms will continue. We don't want any kind of revenge, we want justice. You have witnessed what kind of barbaric killings took place during the movement."
We are fully aware of the challenge that we have to make this trial acceptable to everyone. We are also aware of what kind of injustice has been done in the name of justice over the years. We want to initiate a reconciliation process through this trial."
Industries Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan said, "Victory becomes complete when people get justice. Considering everything, it has been decided to prosecute this mass killing in the International Crimes Tribunal. The law needs to be amended so that no one can question the trial process. We are trying to do what justice should really be."
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman opined to include provision for appointing lawyers by the victim families.
Head of the Electoral System Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar said, "Four kinds of offences were committed during the recent mass killing. These are--- crimes against humanity, criminal offences, financial crimes and electoral crimes. The people who destroyed the electoral process also destroyed democracy and fundamental structure and helped to enable this crimes."
Opposing the proposed amendment to ban the guilty political party for crimes committed a particular time, Barrister Sara Hossain said, "There is no such precedence in the recent time. A political party was banned during the Nuremberg trials. It will not be proper to apply that precedence in 2024."
Journalist David Bergman said, "Allowing defense to recruit international counsels is positive. Provision of banning the guilty political party may be popular to the other political parites, but I think it will be a big mistake for the democracy of this country in future."
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