DHAKA: Ruling Awami League`s Advisory Council Member Suranjit Sengupta Saturday said the war-crime trial could also be held under the Collaborators Act now as the cancellation of the constitutional 5th amendment by the Supreme Court revived the law.

"Trial of crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation could also be held under the collaborators act," said Suranjit, also the co-chairman of a parliamentary special committee assigned to the tasks of working out a recast of the constitution based on the court verdict.   

Speaking at a discussion meeting organized at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity by Bangabandhu Academy, he said the “anti-liberation elements” who grabbed state power following the assassination of Bangabandhu had repealed the collaborators act.

Those who had committed specific crimes during the liberation would be tried under the collaborators act, he said.

He came up with the alternative option halfway through the trial process of top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders on war-crime charges under the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973. Jamaat termed the trial under this law unlawful.     

On 24 January 1972, the government of Bangladesh enacted another law to try those who did not side with the liberation war or politically opposed the call of liberation war or willingly cooperated with the Pakistan Army or committed criminal acts.

Later, the Collaborators Act was repealed by a Presidential Order on December 31, 1975.

No one could think that the trial for war crimes would take place, Suranjit said, adding, “If they could understand that they will be put in the dock, they would have cancelled the International Crimes Tribunal Act as well. This law slept their eyes.”    

“The offenders will be punished and those who committed crimes against humanity would be tried under the law,” Suranjit said.

Suranjit’s statement tagging the Collaborators Act came after the denouncement of the International Crimes Tribunal by Jamaat-e-Islami acting Secretary-General ATM Azharul Islam.

Azharul Islam told a press conference that the “so-called war crimes trial” was “nothing but a travesty of justice as the contentious issue was settled long before.”
Academy President MA Karim chaired the meet while Assistant Attorney-General Nurjahan Begum Mukta, Azizus Samad Don and Razia Mostafa also spoke.

BDST: 1831 HRS, AUGUST 7, 2010