The government is considering legal means to meet a rising popular demand to confiscate properties of 1971 war criminals.
Published : 07 Sep 2016, 04:37 PM
Law Minister Anisul Huq says a new law to allow that to happen is being considered.
"The people demand confiscation of properties of war criminals. We are the government of the people. We must fulfil aspirations of the people, " he told reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
"We are thinking about legal action over the properties. I won't say it will be done sooner or later, but we will want to do it swiftly," he added.
Organisations like Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Ganajagaran Mancha that have been demanding death penalty for war criminals have also been demanding confiscation of the properties of those hanged for war crimes.
The demand gained ground after the execution of top Jamaat-e-Islami financier Mir Quasem Ali on Sep 3.
When his attention was drawn to the matter on Wednesday, law minister Huq said, "A provision for this can be created within the ICT (International Crimes Tribunal) law or a new law can be passed."
He noted he did not specify the term 'confiscation'. "The court will decide whether to confiscate," he added.
The minister, however, said he was for passing a new law "in order to stop the children of the war criminals from inheriting their properties".
Asked if Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir will be banned, he said, "We are amending the ICT Act, 1973. Jamaat committed crimes against humanity as an organisation. There should be proper laws to try Jamaat."
He said the draft of the amendment was awaiting the Cabinet's approval.