International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh): Difference between revisions
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The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is an ongoing [[tribunal]] that purports to investigate and administer justice regarding the war crimes committed during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] of 1971. Those who were involved in crimes against humanity, have never faced any trial process for their atrocities in the 9-month long war, through which Bangladesh became independent. It is claimed that around three million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped, although these figure are the subject of considerable dispute.<ref>http://bangladeshwarcrimes.blogspot.com/2011/11/sayedee-indictment-analysis-1971-death.html</ref><ref>http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/03/bangladesh-establishes-tribunal-for.php</ref><ref name=RNW>[http://necrometrics.com/20c1m.htm#Bangladesh-GI 1971 Liberation War Death Toll Estimates], Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls.</ref> In addition, thousands of people became homeless. Through the arrest of three senior [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]] leaders in June 2010, Bangladesh has taken its first-ever initiative to try those allegedly involved in these crimes forty years after they were perpetrated.<ref>http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-24429</ref> This was not possible before, in part, because the senior Jamaat leaders in question had been elected in the 2001 elections to form a coaltion government through a popular mandate. The tribunal has, however, received widespread international condemnation for being unfair and, thus far, obstructing rather than upholding justice.<ref name=trial>http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=218007</ref><ref name="Steven Kay">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWNwXf0h-GI Bangladesh war crimes are "unfair"], Steven Kay QC, [[Al Jazeera English]], October 2011.</ref><ref name=HRW>[http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/11/02/bangladesh-stop-harassment-defense-war-tribunal-GI Bangladesh must stop harassing defense lawyers of the war crimes tribunal], [[Human Rights Watch]], November 2, 2011.</ref><ref name=RNW>[http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/bangladesh-%E2%80%93-obstructing-international-defence |
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is an ongoing [[tribunal]] that purports to investigate and administer justice regarding the war crimes committed during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] of 1971. Those who were involved in crimes against humanity, have never faced any trial process for their atrocities in the 9-month long war, through which Bangladesh became independent. It is claimed that around three million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped, although these figure are the subject of considerable dispute.<ref>http://bangladeshwarcrimes.blogspot.com/2011/11/sayedee-indictment-analysis-1971-death.html</ref><ref>http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/03/bangladesh-establishes-tribunal-for.php</ref><ref name=RNW>[http://necrometrics.com/20c1m.htm#Bangladesh-GI 1971 Liberation War Death Toll Estimates], Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls.</ref> In addition, thousands of people became homeless. Through the arrest of three senior [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]] leaders in June 2010, Bangladesh has taken its first-ever initiative to try those allegedly involved in these crimes forty years after they were perpetrated.<ref>http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-24429</ref> This was not possible before, in part, because the senior Jamaat leaders in question had been elected in the 2001 elections to form a coaltion government through a popular mandate. On 11 January 2012, former [[Ameer]] of Jamaat-e-Islami, [[Ghulam Azam]] was arrested at the age of 89.<ref name=dailystar12jan2012>[http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=218007 Ghulam Azam lands in jail, The Daily Star, January 12, 2012]</ref> He had retired from politics in 2000, and is presently wheel-chair ridden, was denied bail.<ref name=dailystar12jan2012/><ref name="Islamic Voice">[http://www.islamicvoice.com/december.2000/news.htm#peo Prof. Ghulam Azam Retires], [[Islamic Voice (magazine)|Islamic Voice]], December 2006.</ref> |
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The tribunal has, however, received widespread international condemnation for being unfair and, thus far, obstructing rather than upholding justice.<ref name=trial>http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=218007</ref><ref name="Steven Kay">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWNwXf0h-GI Bangladesh war crimes are "unfair"], Steven Kay QC, [[Al Jazeera English]], October 2011.</ref><ref name=HRW>[http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/11/02/bangladesh-stop-harassment-defense-war-tribunal-GI Bangladesh must stop harassing defense lawyers of the war crimes tribunal], [[Human Rights Watch]], November 2, 2011.</ref><ref name=RNW>[http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/bangladesh-%E2%80%93-obstructing-international-defence Obstructing International Defence], Radio Netherlands Worldwide, August 17, 2011.</ref> |
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==Start of the trial== |
==Start of the trial== |
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Former Additional Secretary Abdul Motin was made chief of the investigation agency of the tribunal. |
Former Additional Secretary Abdul Motin was made chief of the investigation agency of the tribunal. |
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The other investigation officers are: Former Additional [[Inspector General of Police|IGP]] Abdur Rahim, [[Deputy Inspector General of Police|DIG]] Kutubur Rahman, Retired [[Army]] [[Major]] Shamsul Arefin, Additional DIG of CID Mir Shahidul Islam, [[Criminal Investigation Department|CID]] [[Inspector]] Nurul Islam and CID Inspector Abdur Razzak.<ref>http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-17173</ref> |
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Other investigation officers are: |
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Former Additional [[Inspector General of Police|IGP]] Abdur Rahim, |
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[[Deputy Inspector General of Police|DIG]] Kutubur Rahman, |
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Retired [[Army]] [[Major]] Shamsul Arefin, |
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Additional DIG of CID Mir Shahidul Islam, |
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[[Criminal Investigation Department|CID]] [[Inspector]] Nurul Islam and |
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CID Inspector Abdur Razzak.<ref>http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-17173</ref> |
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'''Members of [[prosecutor]] panel of the tribunal:''' |
'''Members of [[prosecutor]] panel of the tribunal:''' |
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Senior lawyer Golam Arif Tipu has been made chief prosecutor of the tribunal. |
Senior lawyer Golam Arif Tipu has been made chief prosecutor of the tribunal. |
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The others are: Syed Rezaur Rahman, Golam Hasnain, Zahir Ahmed, Rana Dasgupta, Jeyad Al-Malum, Syed Haidar Ali, Khondokar Abdul Mannan, Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, Nurul Islam Sujon, Sanjida Khanam and Sultan Mahmud Sumon.<ref>http://www.snnbd.com/mnews-n.php?id=16513&cid=0.23</ref> |
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Others are: |
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==International Criticism of the Tribunal== |
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Syed Rezaur Rahman, |
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Golam Hasnain, |
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Zahir Ahmed, |
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Rana Dasgupta, |
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Jeyad Al-Malum, |
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Syed Haidar Ali, |
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Khondokar Abdul Mannan, |
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Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, |
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Nurul Islam Sujon, |
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Sanjida Khanam and |
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Sultan Mahmud Sumon.<ref>http://www.snnbd.com/mnews-n.php?id=16513&cid=0.23</ref> |
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The ICT has garnered widespread international condemnation from a broad array of human rights organisations, public figures, and other bodies, including [[Human Rights Watch]], [[Amnesty International]], and the [[International Bar Association]].<ref name="Steven Kay"/><ref name=HRW/><ref name=RNW/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
Revision as of 02:29, 21 January 2012
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is an ongoing tribunal that purports to investigate and administer justice regarding the war crimes committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. Those who were involved in crimes against humanity, have never faced any trial process for their atrocities in the 9-month long war, through which Bangladesh became independent. It is claimed that around three million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped, although these figure are the subject of considerable dispute.[1][2][3] In addition, thousands of people became homeless. Through the arrest of three senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in June 2010, Bangladesh has taken its first-ever initiative to try those allegedly involved in these crimes forty years after they were perpetrated.[4] This was not possible before, in part, because the senior Jamaat leaders in question had been elected in the 2001 elections to form a coaltion government through a popular mandate. On 11 January 2012, former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Ghulam Azam was arrested at the age of 89.[5] He had retired from politics in 2000, and is presently wheel-chair ridden, was denied bail.[5][6]
The tribunal has, however, received widespread international condemnation for being unfair and, thus far, obstructing rather than upholding justice.[7][8][9][3]
Start of the trial
The tribunal was formed in March 2010 to hold trial of those accused of their involvement in crimes against humanity, including genocide, rape, murder and arson during the 1971 Liberation war.[10] The tribunal, led by Nizamul Haque Nasim, was labeled as "International Crimes Tribunal"
Arrested accused in war crimes trial
Six of the suspects are in jail. They are Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Kamaruzzaman, Qader Mollah and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury. Another BNP leader Abdul Aleem is out on bail for his illness.[11]
Formation of the tribunal
Bangladesh Government announced names of members of judge's panel, investigation agency and prosecutor panel of the tribunal on March 25, 2010.[12]
Judge’s panel of the tribunal:
Justice Nizamul Hoque Nasim was named as the chief of the 3-member judge’s panel of tribunal. Justice ATM Fazle Kabir and retired District Judge A K M Zahir Ahmed are other members of the panel.[13]
Investigation agency of the tribunal:
Former Additional Secretary Abdul Motin was made chief of the investigation agency of the tribunal.
The other investigation officers are: Former Additional IGP Abdur Rahim, DIG Kutubur Rahman, Retired Army Major Shamsul Arefin, Additional DIG of CID Mir Shahidul Islam, CID Inspector Nurul Islam and CID Inspector Abdur Razzak.[14]
Members of prosecutor panel of the tribunal:
Senior lawyer Golam Arif Tipu has been made chief prosecutor of the tribunal.
The others are: Syed Rezaur Rahman, Golam Hasnain, Zahir Ahmed, Rana Dasgupta, Jeyad Al-Malum, Syed Haidar Ali, Khondokar Abdul Mannan, Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, Nurul Islam Sujon, Sanjida Khanam and Sultan Mahmud Sumon.[15]
International Criticism of the Tribunal
The ICT has garnered widespread international condemnation from a broad array of human rights organisations, public figures, and other bodies, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Bar Association.[8][9][3]
See also
References
- ^ http://bangladeshwarcrimes.blogspot.com/2011/11/sayedee-indictment-analysis-1971-death.html
- ^ http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/03/bangladesh-establishes-tribunal-for.php
- ^ a b c 1971 Liberation War Death Toll Estimates, Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls. Cite error: The named reference "RNW" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-24429
- ^ a b Ghulam Azam lands in jail, The Daily Star, January 12, 2012
- ^ Prof. Ghulam Azam Retires, Islamic Voice, December 2006.
- ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=218007
- ^ a b Bangladesh war crimes are "unfair", Steven Kay QC, Al Jazeera English, October 2011.
- ^ a b Bangladesh must stop harassing defense lawyers of the war crimes tribunal, Human Rights Watch, November 2, 2011.
- ^ http://bdoza.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/war-crimes-on-trial-in-bangladesh-2/
- ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=33817
- ^ http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/news_view.php?nc=15&dd=2010-03-30&ni=13081
- ^ http://www.snnbd.com/mnews-n.php?id=16513&cid=0.23
- ^ http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-17173
- ^ http://www.snnbd.com/mnews-n.php?id=16513&cid=0.23