Category Archives: Trial of Organizations

Amendment of International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973

This is a Special Issue post addressing the 2013 Amendment of the ICT Act

On 17 February 2013, the Bangladeshi Parliament passed a bill amending the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973. The amendments present three significant changes :

  1. Trial of Organizations: The amendment enables the ICT to charge and place on trial organizations for their role during the 1971 War of Liberation;
  2. Prosecution Right to Appeal Sentencing: the amendment allows the government, complainant, or informant to  appeal an order of acquittal or order of sentencing;
  3. Disposal of Appeal within 60 days: the amendment imposes a statutory obligation on the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to dispose of any appeal filed before it within 60 days.

The 2013 amendments have been given retrospective effect from 14th July, 2009, bringing the judgment and sentence in the Qader Molla case within the purview of the amended provisions.

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