2nd tribunal to speed up July genocide trials

Staff Reporter :

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Muhammad Tajul Islam, has announced that the government has given preliminary approval to establish a second tribunal to expedite the hearing of cases related to genocide and crimes against humanity during the July-August mass uprising.

“Currently, proceedings are being conducted by a single tribunal. The establishment of an additional tribunal would significantly accelerate the trial process,” the Chief Prosecutor told media on Wednesday.

At present, the ICT is handling 22 miscellaneous cases, while its investigation agency is actively probing 39 separate allegations. Since its inception, the tribunal has received a total of 339 complaints.

According to the prosecutor, of the 141 individuals accused across these cases, 54 have been arrested while 87 remain absconding. The accused include 70 civilians, 62 members of the police, and nine individuals from various military forces.