The Chief Prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, Md Aminul Islam, on Tuesday said the ordinance on enforced disappearance issued by the former interim government was unnecessary, as existing law already provided jurisdiction to try such offences.
Speaking to reporters at his office in Dhaka, he said crimes related to enforced disappearance were already covered under the International Crimes Tribunal Act.
His remarks came after Parliament passed an amendment to the tribunal law earlier in the day, incorporating provisions related to enforced disappearance into the existing legal framework.
The Law Minister told Parliament that the amendment reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring justice in cases of enforced disappearance.
Reacting to the development, Aminul Islam welcomed the move, although he noted that he had not yet reviewed the full text of the amendment.
“I would like to express my gratitude if the ordinance has been repealed and incorporated into the tribunal law. In my view, the ordinance was unnecessary,” he said.
He added that the tribunal already had adequate jurisdiction to try such offences, making separate legislation or a new tribunal redundant.
Aminul Islam further said that integrating enforced disappearance into the tribunal law is a “logical and appropriate decision” that would strengthen the judicial process under a unified legal structure.
FH/MHK