Provision of appeal against interim order of ICT to ensure fair trial: Asif Nazrul

Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has said that a provision of appeal against the interim order of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has been introduced to ensure a fair trial.

"But it will be used in very limited cases," he told reporters today (21 November) in response to a question after inspecting the renovation work of the main building of the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka. Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and the prosecutors of the Tribunal were also present.  

The Interim Government's Advisory Council gave in-principle and final approval to the draft of the "International Crimes (Tribunal) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024" at the Secretariat.

Later, in a briefing on the matter, it was said that the provision of bringing political parties under trial has been removed from this ordinance. The Advisory Council believes that it would not be right to link any other issue with this trial. Adding the issue of banning political parties or organisations will create an opportunity to question this law unnecessarily. The government does not want to provide that opportunity.

If there is a need to ban any political organisation for their criminal activities or if there is a demand in the society, the country has the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Election Act, and the 1978 Political Party Ordinance, it added.