Govt to establish second ICT tribunal: Tajul

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Muhammad Tajul Islam on Wednesday said the government has decided in principle to establish a second tribunal to hold hearing of cases filed over genocide and crimes against humanity committed during July-August mass uprising, reports BSS.

"Now trial is going on in one tribunal. If another tribunal is established, the trial process will be expedited," he told the news agency.

The ICT presently is dealing with 22 miscellaneous cases, while its investigation agency is probing 39 allegations.

"The ICT so far received 339 allegations and as per the complaint registrar, the probe body is investigating 39 cases. A total of 22 miscellaneous cases have been filed so far against 141 people," the chief prosecutor said recently.

Muhammad Tajul Islam added that out of the total 141 accused, 54 have been arrested so far and 87 are still at large. "Of these 141 accused, 70 are civilians, 62 from police and nine are from different military forces," Tajul said.

The ICT chief prosecutor further said they have so far recorded statements of more than 1,000 people and collected digital evidences, including more than 1000 video clippings.