ICT to deliver 3-4 verdicts by October

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has expressed hope that verdicts in three to four cases filed with the International Crimes Tribunal, or ICT, over crimes against humanity during the July uprising will be delivered by October, reports bdnews24.com.
Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, he provided an update on the tribunal's judicial process, saying a significant number of Awami League leaders, activists, and their "associates" in the administration would be tried within this period.
The law advisor said more than 300 complaints had been submitted to the tribunal, of which the prosecution team has filed 16 cases after scrutiny.
Investigations into four cases will be completed within February, and formal trials will commence after framing charges.
Nazrul held the press conference at the law ministry to address criticism over the slow progress in prosecuting crimes committed against supporters of the July uprising.
Besides discussing the ICT's judicial process, he also highlighted key initiatives of the law ministry.
"Once the trials formally begin, defendants are given three weeks to prepare their cases.
"As a result, witness depositions will start after Eid, likely from April," he said.
"As hearings at this court continue uninterrupted, we expect the verdicts to be delivered within four to six months from April. This means we anticipate rulings in three to four cases by October.
"After discussions with Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam, I have reason to believe that these cases include former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and several top leaders and officials as defendants."
Responding to allegations of delays, Nazrul said: "Sheikh Hasina took an average of two and a half years to complete trials against Jamaat and BNP leaders. In comparison, this tribunal is taking less than half that time."
He emphasised that the prosecution team was working tirelessly.
"In previous trials, the crimes were committed long before the cases were filed. But in these trials, there is such an abundance of evidence that we expect the first verdicts within a year."
Regarding the murder cases filed in regular courts over incidents across the country, Nazrul said, "The trials in general criminal courts may take longer."
However, he noted that most defendants in these cases were also accused in the ICT trials.
"If we secure convictions in the ICT cases, delays in regular courts should not be a cause for concern."
The law advisor also addressed cases filed under the Cyber Security Act during the previous administration, saying these cases would be withdrawn swiftly.
"The cases filed under this law for criminalising freedom of expression are being withdrawn first," he said.
He revealed that 396 cases were filed under the law during the previous government.
Of these, the law ministry has withdrawn 332 cases through public prosecutors, and decisions have been finalised to withdraw 61 more cases within three to four working days.
"We cannot withdraw three cases because they are under a stay order by the High Court. The defendants must get the stay order lifted through the court."
Nazrul said that "false cases" filed by the Awami League government to suppress and harass opposition figures were being withdrawn gradually.
He also explained the reason for the delay.
"We started working on this only two months ago after appointing public prosecutors. Identifying thousands of cases in such a short time is extremely challenging," he said.