Bangladesh on Thursday decided to form special tribunals in 64 administrative districts to hold trials of rioters and arsonists under a tough anti-terrorism law even as continuing political violence in the country has claimed over 100 lives in the past seven weeks.
“These (special) court will be formed under the Anti- Terrorism Act 2009. Our Ministry has initiated the required process towards that end,” law Minister Anisul Huq said.
He said that the tribunals were expected to be formed in next 10 days but the law Ministry already sent letters to the session judges in all districts asking them to delegate an additional sessions judge to handle these cases on “priority basis” until the constitution of the special courts.
His comments came as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier on Thursday reiterated her warning against “mindless attacks on innocent people” through violent blockades and shutdowns being enforced by her arch rival and former premier Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP).
“It’s intolerable that attempts are being made to thrust the country towards devastation when we are moving forward. It is unacceptable that the people will have to pay the price and die for someone else’s failure and wrong political decisions,” Hasina said.
BNP along with its right wing allies including the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami have continued to enforce a nationwide blockade since January 6 coinciding with the first anniversary of last year’s divisive general election which it had boycotted which Hasina’s ruling Awami league has called a wrong decision.
Death warrants issued against Jamaat leader
Dhaka: A special Bangladeshi tribunal on Thursday issued death warrants against a top leader of fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party convicted of crimes against humanity during the country’s independence war against Pakistan in 1971, clearing the way for his execution.
The three-bench International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued the death warrant for Mohammad Kamaruzzaman. Tribunal’s Acting Deputy Registrar Mohammad Aftab Uddin Ahmed took it to the Dhaka Central Jail.