Human Rights Watch said the Bangladeshi authorities should urgently set up an effective mechanism to protect witnesses in cases before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
“War crimes trials have become flashpoints for political tension and violence in Bangladesh,” said Brad Adams, Asia director, yesterday.
“The killing of a prosecution witness will frighten past and future war crimes trial witnesses, and some may choose not to testify,” Adams added in the statement.
The statement was issued following the attack incidents on ICT witnesses.
He died on December 10, 2013, after being attacked in his home. Howlader appeared in the case against Delwar Hossain Sayedee, a leading figure in the Jamaat-e-Islaami party.
Howlader’s family members reported to Human Rights Watch that the attacker had first attempted to “chop” Howlader’s wife, seriously injuring her in the arm, before proceeding to attack Howlader with a machete.
But an initial police statement claimed that it was a botched burglary. Police subsequently said preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers were Jamaat members. Six people have been arrested in this regard.
However, Jamaat has denied any involvement in the attack.
“Witnesses, who often live in remote villages, are owed a serious protection program before, during, and after they give testimony to the court,” Adams said in the statement adding: “The state has failed Howlader and his family. A genuine witness protection system should not ask victims to choose between their safety and feeding their families.”
Ranjit Kumar Nath, who testified against Jamaat Secretary General Ali Mohammed Mujaheed, reported that petrol bombs had been flung at his shop and at his home around midnight on December 15. His shop was partially burnt, but the bomb at his home did not explode. Nath had reported threats against him. Although he had filed an official complaint, he was not given any protection.
The HRW has received reports of threats against other witnesses. Bangladesh media have reported attacks on the houses of Justice Fazle Kabir and Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, who were on the panel of judges that sentenced Jamaat leader Abdul Qader Molla to death.
On December 10, ICT judge Kabir, commenting specifically on Howlader’s death, called on the prosecution to ensure witness security, saying that, “It is not acceptable in an independent country that a witness is killed for testifying in the court.”
Human Rights Watch and others urged for the establishment of a formal witness protection program before the trials began in 2010.
