Probe to try AL as party will begin soon: Chief prosecutor

The International Crimes Tribunal's (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam on Sunday said an investigation will be initiated immediately to bring Awami League (AL) as a party to trial for the atrocities it committed during the July-August mass uprising in 2024.
During a press briefing at the ICT premises, the chief prosecutor further said that they are currently scrutinising the allegations brought against the party.
He said the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), a political party in Bangladesh headed by Bobby Hajjaj, has already submitted a complaint to the tribunal bringing allegations of crimes against humanity against the Awami League as a party.
"We will initiate an investigation based on the complaint. Therefore, we can say that we are going to begin a preliminary investigation into the Awami League as a criminal organisation. Once this is fully underway, we will be able to provide updates on the progress toward bringing the party to trial," the chief prosecutor also said.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime on August 5, 2024, various political parties and organisations demanded that the Awami League be held accountable for the atrocities committed during the mass uprising of July-August 2024.
Later, the interim government brought several amendments in the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973, including incorporation of a clause and a section to try and punish political parties, associate bodies or any group of individuals for their crimes that fall under its jurisdiction.
According to the relevant section, if it appears to the tribunal that any organisation has committed, ordered, attempted, aided, incited, abetted, conspired, facilitated, or otherwise assisted the commission of any of the crimes under sub-section 2 of the Section 3 of this Act, the tribunal shall have the power to suspend or prohibit its activities, ban the organization, suspend or cancel its registration or license, and confiscate its properties.

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