DHAKA, Sept 22, 2024 (BSS) – Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today said all the trials to be held in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) must be a acceptable to all. 

“We’re well aware of the challenges (regarding acceptance of trials in the ICT). All trials (to be held) in the ICT must be acceptable to all,” he said in a view-exchange meeting with the stakeholders at the Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) here. 

Presenting the proposed draft of the amendment to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, he said the prosecution team and investigation agency for the ICT have already been reconstituted. 

“Work is underway to make the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 time-befitting,” he said. 

Proposing eight amendments to the existing law, he said that they would send it to the experts for their opinions. 

The law adviser said they have got many important proposals and suggestions through exchange views, adding, “The legal amendments (to the ICT Act) will not stop there. It is an ongoing process.”

“We have the ability to make the trials in the ICT acceptable to all. The tardiness in the trial will be avoided. Our target is to ensure justice going beyond the mentality of (taking) revenge and vengeance,” he said. 

The law adviser said they have witnessed that an elder generation was madly engaged in killings the young generation aimed at stopping the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.     

“What terrible killings had happened? We had seen everything before our eyes. The society doesn’t want any more wound or division,” he said. 

Asif Nazrul said they would try to make the trials in the ICT acceptable to the worlds and each of the human being.

“So, the supporters of those who are going to face the trials would acknowledge that the punishments (against their leaders) are justified,” he said. 

The law adviser called for cooperation from all to establish justice in the society, requesting all concerned to play a role as watchdog.

In the proposed draft of the ICT Act, proposals for including three new sections, 4A, 13A and 20A and two new sub-sections  3(3) and 12 (2) have been given to the act while proposals for bringing amendment to section 3(2)(A), 4(2) and 19 have also been placed. 

Taking part in the meeting the stakeholders gave their opinions on the proposed draft of the ICT Act of 1973. 

Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Adviser AF Hasan Arif, Industries, Housing & Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Golam Rabbani, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division secretary (current charge) Dr Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury, electoral system reform commission chairman Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, senior jurist ZI Khan Panna, former district judge Iktedar Ahmed, Barrister Sara Hossain, ICT Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam and Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, were present at the meeting, among others.