Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Tuesday said that a new era has begun with the inauguration of the renovated main building and courtroom of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for the purpose of conducting trials of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in July-August 2024.
"As a Chief Justice of the country I also have the same expectations that an ordinary citizen has from the International Crimes Tribunal in the trial of genocide and crimes against humanity," the Chief Justice came up with the comments while talking to reporters after inaugurating the main building and courtrooms of the ICT building.
The Chief Justice also expressed optimism that the great tradition that this historical establishment holds in the judicial history of this land as the 'Dhaka High Court' or the 'Old High Court Building' will be fulfilled to a new level by bringing transparency, following due legal process and sound principles of justice in the trials of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in July-August 2024.
Earlier, the Chief Justice renovated the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) building, which is set to hold the trial proceedings for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 2024 student-mass movement.
Later, he along with the tribunal chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, other members and prosecutors visited the main building and courtrooms of the ICT and talked with the media.
The tribunal building, which had been in a dilapidated condition before the renovation, has now been prepared to meet international standards, allowing trials to be held accordingly, chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said.
Earlier, the judicial activities and other activities of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) are being held at a temporary court adjoining the tribunal building. Now, the trial proceedings of the tribunal will be held to the renovated ICT building.
Following the fall of Awami League regime, the ICT was reconstituted with High Court Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder as the new chairman.
The other members of the tribunal are -- Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and retired District and Sessions Judge Md Mohitul Haq Anam Chowdhury.
The ICT formally started the trial proceeding issuing arrest warrants against 46 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on October 17 last. The renovated ICT building is known as the Old High Court Building situated opposite the picturesque Curzon Hall of the Dhaka University.
The historical structure was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century as an official residence of the then governor of East Bengal and Assam provinces. It was turned into the High Court after the division of India in 1947. Later, the government has been using the building as the ICT building.
