The atrocities committed during the 1971 conflict still haunt Bangladesh and efforts to bring justice are essential for the country to moving forward without the heavy burden of impunity. The hundred of thousands of victims and survivors deserve that justice is done and seen to be done.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which began its work in March 2010, could have been an historic opportunity to provide proper acknowledgement and redress to countless victims and allow the country to move forward free from the heavy burden of a long-standing culture of impunity.
However, the major flaws in its proceedings and repeated violations of due process and fair trial rights raised strong concerns of the international community. Furthermore, by focusing its investigations on the current leadership of opposition political parties for their role during the conflict and by handing down the death penalty against several individuals on trial before it, the ICT has inevitably reinforced the claims of those who dismiss its proceedings as a clumsy attempt to carry out an unjust and politically motivated judicial exercise of vengeance under the guise of fighting impunity.
- War crimes in Bangladesh: European Union should act decisively in impending miscarriage of justice, 12 November 2015
- War crimes in Bangladesh: unfair trials and death penalty will not bring justice, 17 June 2015
- We urge the government of Bangladesh to begin dialogue with opposition, Financial Times, Comments/Letters, 28 February 2015
- Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: unfair trials and death penalty will not bring justice, 6 November 2014
- Bangladesh: International Lawyers submit evidence to ICC Prosecutor over serious crimes allegedly committed by government forces, 4 February 2014
- UPR/Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: NPWJ calls for removal of death penalty and strict application of due process guarantees, 19 September 2013
- The Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal should be internationalised – for the sake of the nation’s future, 17 October 2013
- 11th ASP to the ICC: NPWJ convenes side event on “The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal”, The Hague, 21 November 2012
- Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: Make Justice Count Through Fair Trials, Op-Ed By Niccolo ’Figa’ Talamanca and Nicola Giovannini, Eurasia Review, 8 November 2012
- Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: NPWJ calls for removal of death penalty and strict application of due process guarantees, 5 November 2012
For more information, please contact Nicola Giovannini, Press & Public Affairs Coordinator (ngiovannini@npwj.org) or Alison Smith, International Justice Director (asmith@npwj.org)