Attorney general says war crimes trials are outcome of PM Hasina’s political decision

Those who think they are the ones who are taking forward the war crimes trials, are ‘wrong’, says Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

He says the trials are the outcome of Sheikh Hasina’s ‘strict approach.’

His comments came on Tuesday after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali for 1971 war crimes.

On Saturday, two Cabinet members expressed their doubts about top court upholding maximum sentence for the war crimes convict.

 Demand for re-hearing by a new bench, excluding Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, was also raised by the food minister.

 “The prime minister has said that it (the ministers’ comments) was not the government’s view,” Alam told reporters at his office after the verdict.

Before the pronouncement of the verdict on Tuesday, the nine-strong full bench of the Appellate Division issued an order summoning two ministers to explain their remarks.

Speaking to the media after Mir Quasem’s final verdict, the attorney general said that the trials were an outcome of the political decision and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ‘strict approach’.

 “It appears from statements made by several organisations as well as individuals that they think it’s them who are taking ahead the trials, but they are wrong.”

 He referred to the Awami League’s pledge to try the war criminals in the electoral manifesto as well as enacting a law for it in Parliament.

“Those who hold discussions and make remarks over the court should keep in mind that the trials are the outcome of a political decision," said the attorney general.