Dhaka: Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, chairman of the two-member panel of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, on Thursday said only the criminals seek punishment out of regret.

The chairman of the first tribunal came up with the observance as Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, charged with committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, sought hanging for himself in his usual fashion.

"In my 38-year service, I never saw a man want jail sentence or even the death for himself. Even the people, accused under the ICT, never sought punishment for themselves," the ICT-1 chief said.

Referring an article which he had read 10-12 years earlier, Justice Kabir said, "Only the criminals seeks punishment even the death sentence for themselves when their repentance become very high. But all I can say here is, we would not be able to fulfill his (Chowdhury's) wish if we don't get the credible evidence."

"We don't know what Mr. Chowdhury did in 1971. We don't know whether he was seeking hanging for himself, out of repentance or not," Justice Kabir added.

Justice Jahangir Hossain, another member of the ICT-1, said, "Mr Chowdhury demands death sentence for himself only whenever he doesn't like the words uttered by the tribunal."

SQ Chowdhury, who was listening the tribunal chief all this time, then said, "Sir I am reiterating the demand of hanging out of despair."

Ends/AMA/04/07/13