War crime trial process kicks off: Minister
Friday, 10 April 2009
The government will appoint an investigating agency, prosecutors and form tribunals within two weeks, for the long-awaited war crimes trials, the law minister said Thursday, report bdnews24.com and UNB.
"The trial process has started," Shafiq Ahmed told reporters after the first meeting of the committee for investigating and prosecuting war crimes committed during the 1971 independence war.
He told reporters that the government would appoint investigating agency at the beginning of next week and prosecutors and investigation officers within a fortnight. Tribunals would be formed thereafter.
The law minister, however, would not name the names of those who are going to be appointed as investigation officers. He hinted at that the trial would be conducted under the International Crime Tribunals Act 1973.
"We want the trial process transparent, neutral and proper so that no innocent person is victimised. Only the genuine offenders will be put in the dock," Shafiq said.
On allegations that some people in the government are war criminals, the minister said, all war criminals -- irrespective of their partisanship - will be brought to justice.
"The trial process has started," Shafiq Ahmed told reporters after the first meeting of the committee for investigating and prosecuting war crimes committed during the 1971 independence war.
He told reporters that the government would appoint investigating agency at the beginning of next week and prosecutors and investigation officers within a fortnight. Tribunals would be formed thereafter.
The law minister, however, would not name the names of those who are going to be appointed as investigation officers. He hinted at that the trial would be conducted under the International Crime Tribunals Act 1973.
"We want the trial process transparent, neutral and proper so that no innocent person is victimised. Only the genuine offenders will be put in the dock," Shafiq said.
On allegations that some people in the government are war criminals, the minister said, all war criminals -- irrespective of their partisanship - will be brought to justice.