Dhaka: Allegations of crimes against humanity during the war of liberation are historical and it would be proved on the basis of historic evidences, not on lawyers` rhetoric, said attorney general (AG) Mahbube Alam.
He also said: “No one will be able to change the history using body language.”
Attorney General made the remarks recently in an exclusive interview with banglanews24.com at his office.
Mahbube Alam was condemning the way of submissions of the lawyers of the accused war criminals in the tribunal. "What they are doing is absolutely contempt of court," he opined.
Mahbube Alam was more particular about Fakhrul Islam, lawyer of BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who in a recent submission in the tribunal told professor emeritus Anisuzzaman `a liar`.
How could he dishonour one of the most vernacular scholar and educationist in the country in such a manner in the tribunal, he asked.
Mahbube Alam said, the nation should feel proud to see such a towering personality in the tribunal. He should be honoured there, but instead he was personally attacked in the court.
I won`t like to term it rhetoric; this is absolute disappointing and substandard attitude, he said.
Fakhrul Islam should say sorry to the nation in open for his misdeed, said Mahbube Alam.
"Fakhrul is such a lawyer who never could show any intelligence in his cases. When he termed an honourable person `a liar`, I felt resentment inside me, but I was unfortunate that I could take any role in this connection and this is painful for me," said the Attorney General.
Fakhrul Islam is already exempted from the contempt charge as he prayed unconditional mercy before Tribunal-1.
"Begging mercy is not enough for him, he should compensate his faults seeking pardon to the nation in open," said Mahbube Alam.
This lawyer also made adverse comment on our great liberation war saying `it was a fight between India and Pakistan`, he added.
In weak cases the lawyers try to build case merit by showing body language. This lawyer also tried to do that, opined Mahbube Alam.
People who tried to write Urdu instead of Bangla, tried to ban Rabindranath Thakur in Bangladesh are still active, so we need to remain cautious about them, said the attorney general.
When asked about the recent criticism against the prosecutors in the tribunals, Mahbubube Alam said, we should let them complete the task on their own way. We should have patience.
"Liberation war is a historic matter, and the roles of war criminals are also historic. Their acts were recorded in many ways. They kept lot of evidences of the brutalities behind, and the prosecutors have successfully pointed them out. They are experienced enough to prove those in the tribunal. Moreover, the verdict will be given on the basis of truth, basis of evidences, so there is nothing to worry and no question of failure," the attorney general said.
Defendant lawyers sometimes give untrue and unwanted message to the media, but they should keep in mind that the trial would never consider the versions they are giving in front of media.
When asked about the slow pace of the trial in the tribunals, attorney general suggested the people of the country to have patience.
We are following the spirit of the war of liberation and we believe the people of the county who lost their family members, their assets during the war will get justice through the trial, hoped Mahbube Alam.
BDST 1022 HRS, JUNE 03, 2012
MMK- menon@banglanews24.com
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