Detaining someone secretly without legal assistance for more than 24 hours after their arrest will be considered a “disappearance,” Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Md Aminul Islam has said.
He made the remarks in response to questions from reporters at his office on Monday regarding the passage of the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act, 2026 and the National Human Rights Commission Act in parliament.
The Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act, 2026 and the National Human Rights Commission Act were passed in parliament on September 6.
As trials involving enforced disappearances are now being conducted at the International Crimes Tribunal, the chief prosecutor spoke to reporters about the matter on Monday.
Describing the disappearance law as a milestone, Aminul said that from now on, if someone is secretly detained without legal assistance for more than 24 hours after arrest, the period will be considered a “disappearance.”
He said all reported cases of disappearance would be scrutinised to determine whether they would be tried by the tribunal or under a separate legal process.
He also said there would be no conflict between the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act, 2026 and the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act.
Meanwhile, the Appellate Division was scheduled to issue an order on Monday on whether convicted war criminal Abul Kalam Azad could appeal his death sentence. However, the Supreme Court did not issue the order.
In this regard, the chief prosecutor said no person convicted of crimes against humanity would be allowed to appeal after 30 days, regardless of whether the convict was Abul Kalam Azad or former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Meanwhile, the tribunal administration has issued show-cause notices to three Special Branch (SB) members over an incident involving a cake-cutting event at the tribunal’s detention centre.
Aminul said security at the tribunal would be tightened in the interest of ensuring the smooth conduct of trials.