Law Minister Anisul Huq, an MP from Brahmanbaria-4 (Kasba-Akhaura) constituency, is better known for his outstanding leadership role in the final stage of the Bangabandhu assassination trial. He was also the chief counsel and special prosecutor for the Anti-Corruption Commission and chief prosecutor for the Peelkhana carnage case. He was inducted into the Cabinet on January 12, 2014. In an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune's Ali Asif Shawon, the minister shared his thoughts on some contemporary issues, including the most-discussed Digital Security Act and the deportation of convicted killers of Bangabandhu.
In the 2001 elections, right after the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power, there was a backlash against the Hindu community and the supporters of the Awami League. Later, an inquiry commission was formed, and around 18,000 cases of torture were filed across the country. What is the progress of the commission's report or those cases?
I can't say anything about the commission. But I can say one thing: following the activities of the BNP against the Awami League and the pro-liberation forces, trial proceedings started against the accused based on the charge sheets, and some judgments have also been given.
The other cases filed in 2001, and those in 2014 or 2018 over the arson attacks are being investigated. Some cases are in the trial stage after the police filed charge sheets. Many of the BNP leaders, who have been arrested in recent days, are also accused in these cases. Those who are accused in the cases will be prosecuted.
Where do you stand about the trial of Jamaat-e-Islami as an organization for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War?
In principle, we have a decision. But legally, the amendment has been drafted. It will go to the Cabinet. Then the existing law will be changed after the approval from the Cabinet to start the trial against Jamaat-e-Islami.
As the government says that the Digital Security act will not be practised against journalists, but it has been used in some places. What do you want to say in this regard?
I think now you cannot show me any cases under the Digital Security Act where the police or court have received any cases against a journalist or general people illogically. To ensure the best practice of this Act, we are talking with the office of the United Nations for Human Rights, and by this time, we have formed a cell.
Every case under this law will go directly to that cell, wherever it has been filed, whether in a court or a police station. Then the cell will investigate the matter and the case will be filed upon approval. Until then, no one will be arrested or summoned. I think this practice is now being followed properly. I can firmly say that no cases are being received now under the DSA without scrutiny, whether the accused is a journalist or an ordinary person.
Some of the convicted war criminals and killers of Bangabandhu are staying in countries like the UK, the USA and Canada. What is the progress of bringing them back?
Recently, in a meeting with the British High Commissioner, they suggested sending a formal request to the British government in this regard. However, after that conversation, the United Kingdom's government changed, and now an interim government is in power. By this time, we are making a draft following the Mutual Legal Assistance Act. We will send it to the British government through the Home Ministry, as the Home Ministry is the focal point of this Act. We are optimistic about bringing them back because outgoing Home Secretary of the UK Priti Sushil Patel told us they are positive to send back the criminals convicted in Bangladesh.
What are the problems you are facing in bringing them back to Bangladesh?
Noor Chowdhury, a self-confessed and convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been staying in Canada. In Canada, there is a law for which they cannot send back a criminal who got the death penalty in other countries. In a recent conversation with the Canadian High Commissioner, I told them, ‘let's examine the law'. We want to examine the Canadian law, and I am not going to take a ‘No' as the answer. I will not be satisfied if a person who committed a heinous crime in my country stays in their country for a lifetime.
Rashed Chowdhury, another killer, got political asylum in the US around 2004 or 2005. When we got the message, we started the discussion with them to bring him back, and now we are approaching the US. In 2007, we saw that you sent back one criminal named Mohiuddin. Now, why not the other criminals? I can say one thing: we will not rest until or unless we get them back.
