Relocation of Bangladesh war crimes court will not hinder trials, says attorney general

Transferring the International Crimes Tribunal from the old High Court building will not affect the ongoing trials of the 1971 war criminals, says Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

Speaking to reporters at his office on Wednesday, he said, “There is no need to worry over it. This will not impact the trial process.”

The Supreme Court authorities on Tuesday sent a letter to the law ministry asking it to relocate the tribunal.

The top legal officer of the state said all the files of cases were placed in a “risky manner” inside the Appellate Division record room.

“I was stunned to see how the records of cases were placed inside the record room. It was highly risky,” he said.

“As I went there to find out how many days it took to file the reviews in war crimes cases, I saw the judges sitting at the balcony as there was no space for them to sit. The way the records of cases were placed really worries me.”

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

Alam made the remark on being asked why the abandoned old High Court building was needed despite getting the Sarhak Bhaban, the building that used to house the Roads and Highways Department.

Shedding light on the history of the building, he said: “Bangladesh was a province when this building was constructed. Now it is an independent nation that keeps pace with any other country of the world, particularly in cases of human rights, law enforcement and justice division.”

“Records are kept in underground rooms in other countries of the world. We need to think the same way.”

Regarding the preservation of the building, the attorney general said the war crimes trial was carried out by judges, not the building.

“Judges tried the war criminals, not the building. The verdicts will remain there forever,” he said.

When reporters cited Suhrawardy Udyan as an example, he said: “It (Suhrawardy Udyan) had been there for ages. Some historical events took place there. This nation started its journey from Suhrawardy Udyan.”

Earlier, Supreme Court wrote to the law ministry to transfer International Crimes Tribunal from the old High Court building.​