‘Youths are angry, offended for law Minister’s statement’

Law Minister Advocate Anisul Huq said, “according to the International Crime Tribunal Act it’s impossible now running the trial against Jamaat-e-Islami criminal during the liberation war." Young people are furious for this statement.

Distinguished peoples that have made movement demanding punishment for the war criminals said, the ongoing trial against Jamaat may be hampered for the statement of law Minister. Judges will be put on the pressure. He gave this kind of statement no knowing enough about the law. They demanded to investigate why he said that. They said, no further delay, Jamaat should be judged immediately as an organization.

In fact, as the preparation of the case against Jamaat has been investigated for seven months. Over the past two months, they were preparing for formal charges. According to investigators, they are prepared to charge at any time.

He showed three reasons for his statement – First, according to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973, there are no penalties for the organization. Second, the appeal division already has a case regarding Jamaat’s registration, if any, charges brought in the tribunal law, there will be an effect on that case. At this point, Law Minister said, “I think, there will be an effect. Now we have to move forward considering all the other aspects. For that, it will take time.”  And thirdly, in the other laws, it is said, if any business, institution or company is guilty, the senior officer or moderator of the company will take the responsibility, and responsible officers will be punished. The Jamaat leaders, who have made crimes against humanity during the liberation war, have already been brought to justice. It would be considered to conflict with the previous punishment if they punished for the second time.

In response to the statement of the law minister the president in command of 71’s killer and broker eliminating committee Shahriar Kabir said to that, “ law minister won’t give this kind account if he has the slightest knowledge about the war crime's judgment of the country and abroad. It is not law minister or government’s jurisdiction, whether the offender group can be sentenced under this Act. It is the Tribunal’s decision. He should think about the quarrel of prosecutors.

The registration example against Jamaat and Trial as an organization is two completely different things. I am shocked at his statement.”

Shahriar Kabir said, “This kind of statement of Law Minister about the case, giving a wrong signal to the people. If the Government tries to give an exclusion to Jamaat, it will be suicidal for the Awami League.”

He said, “It will put pressure on the Tribunal for the statement of the Minister.” According to him, a person can be judged 100 times if he does crimes 100 times. For example, during the Trial of Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami in the Tribunal, 10 Truck arm's cases are running in Chittagong. However, Nizami’s Lawyer didn’t say that another case was running against him in Chittagong court.

Gonojagoron leader Maruf Rosul said to that, last year when the campaign of Gonojagoron Moncho began in February with the prominent citizens’ law minister said, Jamaat can be judged by the existing law.

Maruf Rasul thinks, the Law Minister said this intently. The highlighting logic for this, he said, Hefazot Islam is being reinforced, many people talking for them. This time this kind of statement of a law minister indicates something special. According to him, the law minister is not so ignorant that he doesn’t know anything about Tribunal Act. He didn’t anything in a rush.

Active blogger of Gonojagoron Moncho Akash Aditya said to that, “Law minister said, the appeal division already has to cause on Jamaat’s registration. If any charges brought in the tribunal law, there will be an effect on that case.”

At this point, he said, “I think; it would affect. It means – law minister already understood about the effect. However, 16 million people of the country thinking it wouldn’t reset. We demand the quick withdrawal of the Statement of Law minister. Fasten the trial against Jamaat.