There were massacres happened in Bangladesh in July, not genocide, said Tajul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal.
He said this at a press conference after submitting the investigation report of the genocide against Sheikh Hasina to the tribunal on Monday.
The Chief Prosecutor said that there is no charge or allegation of genocide. According to the international definition, the crimes committed in Bangladesh were crimes against humanity. This is not the crime of genocide.
The type of crime committed in Bangladesh was mass killing or massacre; not genocide.
The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal has brought five charges against Sheikh Hasina in the case on charges of crimes against humanity in the July-August movement. The investigation report mentions that Hasina committed crimes against humanity as a 'mastermind, order giver and superior commander'.
Tajul Islam said, “After finalizing the information and allegations in the investigation report, it will be formally submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal. Then, the formal trial process will begin.”
The Chief Prosecutor said that formal charges against Sheikh Hasina and three others will be submitted to the tribunal within a maximum of two to three weeks.
Asked whether the Awami League will be tried as a party or not, Tajul said that a decision will be taken in the future as the amendment to this law was only made last night.
“If the investigation agency believes that the party has committed crimes against humanity, a decision will be taken to investigate whether it has committed crimes against humanity,” he said.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
