The work of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is being hampered since many witnesses are dying due to old age. Reportedly, around 700 complaints are recorded and all of them may not be dealt with.
In future, the work must be governed by priorities. ICT sources said that so far, they got 751 complaints against 4,038 persons; of these, investigation of 672 complaints is pending. Currently, 27 complaints are under investigation, work on 74 cases are over and 32 are under trial. Efforts were made to establish eight more district-level offices but this did not happen as the ministry could not provide enough manpower.
Investigation coordinator Abdul Hannan says: “In the current situation, it’s not possible to investigate all complaints; many witnesses are dying of old age complications.”
As per the organogram of the tribunal, there are 289 posts and 175 persons are employed in them; 114 posts are vacant.
“Though it’s been said that 175 persons are involved, only 11/12 persons are engaged in direct investigation; others are in monitoring posts.”
Coordinator of the investigation committee, Sanaul Huq, says: “We have around 700 complaints and are trying to do what is possible with the available manpower. We sent a letter to the ministry on the matter but did not get any response.”
Additional secretary of the ministry of home, Abu Bakar Siddiqui, said: “We did not hear anything about low manpower; I believe the pressure of cases is less now.”
The tribunal was formed on Mar 25, 2010 to put to trial those accused of human rights violations, and other abuses during the liberation war in 1971. When the pressure of the work increased, a second tribunal was formed in 2012. It was dissolved in 2015.