Attorney general Md Asaduzzaman on Saturday defended the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973, stating that it would be adequate to prosecute autocrats of Awami League鈥檚 government and their aides responsible for the offenses committed during the Students Movement Against Discrimination in July-August.
He made the remark while addressing a debate competition organised by the Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in the capital.
Chaired by the Debate for Democracy chairman Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury, the competition focused on whether administrative autocracy or party autocracy was more responsible for the July killings.
Asaduzzaman emphasised that the July offenses, which targeted a specific group of civilians involved in the students鈥� movement, fell under the definition of crimes against humanity as defined by the 1973 ICT Act.
He pointed out that the law was sufficient to try those who orchestrated and executed the persecution and killings, using law enforcement agencies to suppress dissent.
鈥楢utocracy is directly responsible for the July killings,鈥� said Asaduzzaman, adding that those who were complicit in the regime鈥檚 actions must be brought to justice to honour the sacrifice of students like Abu Sayeed and Mugdho, and to uphold the independence and dignity of the country.
There is no alternative to holding autocrats and their supporters accountable, and the interim government is committed to ensuring justice for the victims, he further stressed.
Asaduzzaman, however, acknowledged the challenge posed by the short time frame 鈥� 60 or 90 days 鈥� available to present such cases before the tribunal.
Asaduzzaman noted that during the 15-year rule of the Awami League government, over 4,000 people were killed extra judicially, 700 were victims of enforced disappearances, and 60,000 were accused in 鈥榝ictitious cases鈥�.
He also characterised these incidents as crimes against humanity.
In a question about whether the July offenses can be classified as genocide, the attorney general stated that a proper legal examination under the ICT law, which was currently under amendment, would be necessary to reach such a conclusion.
Asaduzzaman assured that the prosecution would ensure a fair trial process, leaving no room for the defence to challenge the proceedings.
In response to another question, he clarified that it was not the government or police, but the victims鈥� families who filed the cases over the July incident.
The government would monitor the situation to ensure that no innocent person is wrongly indicted, he added, confirming that those who fled the country after the offenses would be extradited and that actions would be taken against those who aided their escape.
As of October 10, a total of 39 complaints of genocide and crimes against humanity have been filed against Sheikh Hasina, her cabinet members, and associates.
Additionally, numerous criminal cases, primarily related to killings during the student-led uprising, have been lodged following Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 ousting as prime minister on August 5.
In the debate, Eastern University, which opposed the topic, won against Dhaka College, which supported it.
The adjudicators included United Nations migration expert SM Morshed, anthropologist AKM Mazharul Islam, 抖阴精品 senior journalist Moneruzzaman Mission, GTV special correspondent Saidul Islam Sayeed, and Independent Television special correspondent Jahanara Parveen.
