Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said as per the constitution those convicted for war crimes will be able to seek the president’s clemency.
Earlier, the government planned to amend the law to restrict those convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) from having access to this provision.
However, on Tuesday, the law minster told journalists the government had no plans to create any law or amend the constitution to curb the rights of war criminals.
He said the president would consider how best to practice his discretion on any petition for mercy submitted to him. “We believe the president will consider the merits of the case from each of the applicants before using his discretion.”
President Abdul Hamid recently told his secretary he would not exercise his authority to grant clemency during his tenure because he thinks it is a practice that tarnishes the image of the president’s office.
Last year on November 14 the home minister informed parliament 25 people have been granted clemency by the president since 1972. During the present Awami League government’s term in office 21 people sentenced to death were granted amnesty
A meeting was held with foreign delegations on Tuesday at the law minister’s office, attended by Dr Abdullah Nasser Al-Busairi, ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Kyle F Kelhofer, country director of International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Bangladesh, and a delegation from the UNDP.
Shafique later told reporters the Saudi ambassador wanted to know about the latest developments in the trial of Saudi diplomat Khalaf’s death.
The minister said: “We informed him the trial is now awaiting hearing in the Appellate Division. The prosecution is preparing the paper book and it will take a month or two more to start the hearing.”
With regard to the Saudi government’s steps to allow illegal workers the chance to legally continue to work in the Kingdom, the Saudi ambassador expressed the willingness to recruit more workers from Bangladesh, the minister said.
Measures to ease case backlogs
About his meeting with the IFC delegation, the minister said: “Bangladesh is working with the IFC to accelerate the judicial system and reduce the number of pending cases. The organisation is emphasising on resolving cases following the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.”
He said the IFC was organising training programmes for all parties who will implement the ADR system in the country. “We have already trained judges and mediators on the process, which will reduce the backlog of cases pending for a long time.”
On Sunday at a programme, the minister said at present at least 2.45m cases were pending in different courts.
He said the government had already amended the civil law to execute the ADR process, and would amend the criminal law to ensure the same system for hundreds of criminal cases also pending for some time.
“We are also thinking of including the provision of plea-bargain to reduce the number of pending cases. With this process, the courts may reduce penalties and punishments for anyone who admits to their guilt,” he said.