Will crime tribunal succeed in delivering justice in Bangladesh?

The liberation war of Bangladesh continued for 268 days, while the people had to wait for 42 years to bring a perpetrator to book. The government of Sheikh Hasina followed the constitutionally-determined judicial process to deal with war crimes so that the process is not questioned.

Abdul Quader Molla’s execution brought an end to the judicial process that had commenced on May 28, 2012.

Quader Molla got capital punishment for crimes committed against humanity during the liberation war in 1971. Six cases of genocide, murder and rape were “proved beyond doubt” and the Islamist leader had to go to the gallows. Molla got death sentence for the first crime, while he was convicted for 15 years to life imprisonment in five other cases.

The liberation war of Bangladesh continued for 268 days, while the people had to wait for 42 years to bring a perpetrator to book. The government of Sheikh Hasina followed the constitutionally-determined judicial process to deal with war crimes so that the process is not questioned.

However, trial process had not been smooth as many at home and abroad raised questions about its’ transparency’ and ‘standard’. Judging the sensitivity of the case, the government was very careful to ensure that the accused get optimum opportunity to defend them.

In this context, the ICT of Bangladesh has an edge over similar other tribunals, for example, Nurenburg Tribunal, Tokyo Tribunal or the recent Cambodia war crime tribunal, as the accused under ICT Bangladesh have the right to appeal unlike other tribunals.