ICT not upholding int'l legal standards, claims HRW

International rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims Bangladeshi authorities are 'failing to uphold international standards' at the International Crimes Tribunal, reports bdnews24.com.

In a statement on Tuesday, the group said: "The failures risk denying justice to victims, undermining the rule of law, falsely imprisoning political opponents, and repeating the rights violations of the past."

On Monday, prosecutors submitted charges of crimes against humanity and genocide against 41 people, including politicians, members of security forces, and journalists accused of human rights violations under Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government.

"Those responsible for the many abuses committed under the Sheikh Hasina government should be appropriately held to account, but many prosecutions are falling short of international fair trial standards," said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"Bangladesh needs to urgently reform its criminal justice system, and the new government should ensure that there is no room for political vendettas through shoddy investigations and arbitrary allegations."

The tribunal is hearing cases related to the crackdown by security forces on student-led protests during the July Uprising that toppled the Awami League government. It is also prosecuting a number of other abuses, including alleged extrajudicial killings and disappearances, committed during Hasina's rule.