Bangladesh tribunals to try 1971 war crimes

DHAKA: The Bangladesh government has decided to set up war crimes tribunals within two weeks to try those accused of genocide, arson and rape during the 1971 liberation struggle.

The government has decided to appoint an investigation agency and appoint prosecutors to investigate into the crimes like genocides, arsons and rapes committed by Bengali-speaking collaborators of Pakistani troops during the 1971 War, said law minister Shafique Ahmed after an inter-ministerial meeting.

"We have launched the trial process taking the decision to form the tribunals and make the appointment . . . The appointments will be done shortly," Ahmed said after the meeting at the home ministry chaired by Home Minister Sahara Khatun.

The development came days after the United Nations offered its support for the trial of 'crimes against humanity' as sought earlier by the new government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with UNDP country representative in Dhaka saying the UN would offer all assistance to ensure the trials met international standards.

The London-based global rights watchdog Amnesty International appreciated the UN offer and named four of its war crime experts to assist the government in carrying out the trial.
"The failure to seek truth and justice for crimes against humanity and other serious violation of human rights and humanitarian law in 1971 has encouraged the persistent nature of impunity in Bangladesh," Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said in a statement carried in Bangladesh newspapers.

They were yet to have any official list of war criminals but the Sector Commanders Forum, a grouping of living commanders of the 1971 liberation war last year published a list of 50 war criminals in the 'first phase' and said it planned to come up with more such lists gradually.

Officials earlier said a senior Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer was expected to head the planned probe committee comprising representatives of different law enforcement and intelligence agencies and non-government watchdogs.