ICT ordinance gets clause, section to try, punish political parties

BSS:
The government has brought an amendment to the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, incorporating a clause and a section to try and punish political parties, associate bodies or any group of individuals for their crimes that fall under its jurisdiction.

The new amended ordinance, which was issued on May 10, will be called the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, and will come into effect immediately.

A new clause (bbb) will be included after clause (bb) of section 2 of the (Act No. XIX of 1973) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973, said a gazette notification issued by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division last night.

Under the newly included clause, “organisation” means any political party, or any entity subordinate to, or affiliated to, or associated with such a party, or any group of individuals which, in the opinion of the Tribunal, propagates, supports, endorses, facilitates, or engages in the activities of such a party or entity, it added.

Apart from this clause, a section 20B will be included after 20A of the Act No. XIX of 1973, describing punishment for the organisation.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, if it appears to the Tribunal that any organisation has committed, ordered, attempted, aided, incited, abetted, conspired, facilitated or otherwise assisted the commission of any of the crimes under sub-section (2) of section 3 of this Act, the Tribunal shall have the power to suspend or prohibit its activities, ban the organisation, suspend or cancel its registration or licence and confiscate its properties,” the gazette further said.

The government, earlier on February 10, had amended the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, to make it time-befitting by issuing the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, with a view to strengthening the tribunal.

Meanwhile, the prosecution of the ICT hailed the amendment, terming it an appropriate initiative.

“Many other existing laws of the country have provisions to ban an organisation or take other punitive actions against it. Nevertheless, if the trial of an organisation or person is held at an international standard tribunal or through an international standard law like this, it would be more acceptable to people. We are thanking the government for bringing such a time-befitting amendment,” said prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.