The chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal, Golam Mortuza Mozumder, has urged tribunal employees and officers to familiarise themselves with the laws, rules, and procedures governing war crimes trials, emphasising that the public expects them to be knowledgeable in these matters.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while inaugurating a three-day training session for tribunal staff and officers at the tribunal court room.
The event was also addressed by tribunal members Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood, Mohammad Mohitul Haque Anam Chowdhury, and registrar ASM Ruhul Imran.
Drawing an analogy to the rigorous training required for individuals employed by royal families, the chairman stressed the need for tribunal staff to thoroughly understand their roles and responsibilities.
鈥榊ou must have a clear understanding of the duties we discharge as the chairman and members of the tribunal,鈥� he said, instructing research officers to locate books that detail the responsibilities of tribunal employees.
He further noted that he was still unclear about the specific functions of certain tribunal staff, such as the court keeper.
鈥楢 tribunal consists of everyone鈥攆rom peons to officers. If any employee fails to perform their duty, the entire system is affected,鈥� he remarked.
Highlighting the importance of accuracy, he criticised the misspelling of distinguished guests鈥� names as gross negligence.
鈥榊ou must ensure the correct spelling of names,鈥� he said, recalling that his own name had been misspelled three times during a recent event in Chattogram.
To test the staff, he asked some employees to state his full name and those of his colleagues鈥攕ome succeeded, while others could not.
The chairman also suggested that the term 鈥榯raining鈥� be replaced with 鈥榚xchange of views鈥� or 鈥榙iscussion,鈥� arguing that the word 鈥榯raining鈥� often carries a negative perception.
He cited similar reservations among Supreme Court and district judges, who previously showed reluctance toward training programs, questioning why judges should undergo training.
鈥業n many countries, they refer to such sessions as seminars rather than workshops,鈥� he said, encouraging a shift in terminology to encourage participation.