NN Online:
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said a search committee has been formed to constitute a new Election Commission (EC) and the gazette declaring the names of the search committee members will be published within a day or two, right after the approval of the chief adviser.
“A search committee has been formed. As far as I know, you will get to know about this after the signature (approval) by Chief Adviser Dr Mohammad Yunus.
After the formation of the search committee, the Election Commission will be constituted, and then the voter list will be updated,” he said while talking to reporters after his meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk at the secretariat on Tuesday noon.
Replying to a question on possible UN support for making credible the trial over the genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August student-led uprising at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), the law adviser said the UN is already involved with the legal reform, and if the government needs any institutional support, like forensic support, technical support and capacity building, the UN said they would provide those.
“We will do justice. We are not holding the trial out of the desire for revenge. We would not do injustice. So, we don’t have anything to hide,” the law adviser added.
Dr Asif Nazrul said the UN official has expressed his support for the interim government, its different works, especially the ongoing reforms, transitional transformation and conveyed his content over those.
“He [Volker Turk] raised most questions regarding the ICT. He wanted to know if there is any scope to abolish the death penalty.
I said it is not possible in the present reality. The provision of the death penalty is there in our penal system, our hundred-year-old justice system. Now there is no question of abolishing this provision, ahead of the trial of the fascists, who have killed hundreds of youths,” he said.
The law adviser further said he informed the UN delegation about legal changes that the government is bringing to ICT, the changes that are there in the draft, and Volker Turk was happy to learn those and thanked him.
“I told him that we are bringing changes to the definition of crime, ensuring defence to bring an adequate number of witnesses, to have equal space in the court.
We are creating opportunities to keep international observers in the court, to appoint foreign lawyers by the accused.
The UN official has expressed satisfaction,” Dr Asif Nazrul said.
Replying to another question on allowing Awami League to participate in the upcoming election, the law adviser said, “Those who killed hundreds of people, caused another 40 to 50 thousand people to lose their limbs, who are still defending their actions, I don’t know, if the audio clip (a reported leaked audio clip of Sheikh Hasina) is right, their leader is issuing threats of dire consequences, from a foreign country, to 287 people, I don’t think the country’s people will accept (allowing them to participate in polls) before their trial and redemption.”
“Why will they carry out political activities? If that is killing hundreds of people again? They are still trying to mislead the people, giving threats. I am leaving it to all the sensible people of Bangladesh whether this party should have any political right,” he added.
