New Age | ICT Act 1973 sufficient to bring autocrats and aides responsible for July offenses to justice: AG

Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman on Saturday defended the International Criminal Court (ICT) Act, 1973, saying it was appropriate to prosecute Awami League government autocrats and their aides responsible for the crimes committed during the July 5 student-led mass uprising are responsible for prosecuting by August 5th.

His remarks came while addressing a debate competition organized by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in Dhaka.

The debate, led by Debate for Democracy leader Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury, focused on whether the administrative autocracy or the party autocracy was more responsible for the killings of people during the uprising.

Asaduzzaman stressed that the July crimes, which targeted a specific group of civilians involved in the student movement against discrimination, fell within the definition of crimes against humanity under the 1973 law.

He noted that the law was sufficient to bring to justice those who orchestrated and carried out the persecutions and killings and used law enforcement to suppress dissent.

“The autocracy is directly responsible for the killings in July,” Asaduzzaman said.

“Those who participated in the regime’s actions must be brought to justice to honor the sacrifices of students like Abu Sayeed and Mukdho and to preserve the country’s independence and dignity,” he said.

He further stressed that there is no alternative but to hold autocrats and their supporters accountable and that the interim government is committed to ensuring justice for the victims.

Asaduzzaman, however, acknowledged the challenge posed by the short time frame – 60 or 90 days – available for presenting such cases to the tribunal.

Asaduzzaman noted that during the 15-year rule of the Awami League government, over 4,000 people were extrajudicially killed, 700 became victims of enforced disappearances and 60,000 were accused in “fictitious cases”.

He described these incidents as crimes against humanity.

Asked whether the July acts could be classified as genocide, the Attorney General explained that a proper legal review under the ICT Act, which is currently being amended, was required to reach such a conclusion.

Asaduzzaman assured that the prosecution would ensure a fair trial and leave no room for the defense to challenge the proceedings.

In response to another question, he clarified that it was not the government or the police but the families of the victims who filed the lawsuit.

The government will monitor the situation to ensure that no innocent person is falsely accused, he added.

He also confirmed that those who fled the country after the July crimes would be extradited and that action would be taken against those who helped them escape.

In the debate, Eastern University, which opposed the issue, won against Dhaka College, which supported it.

The judges included UN migration expert SM Morshed, anthropologist AKM Mazharul Islam, senior new-age journalist Moneruzzaman Mission, GTV special correspondent Saidul Islam Sayeed and Independent Television special correspondent Jahanara Parveen.