Dhaka: The ruling Awami League-led Jatiya Sangsad will formally pass the International Crimes Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2013 on Sunday, said Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid on Wednesday.

The Speaker disclosed this while talking with a few journalists. Under pressure from the Shahbagh Spring sit-in demonstration, the Cabinet on Monday passed the draft of the amendment ensuring equal rights of appeal for both the convicts and aggrieved in case of acquittal or inadequate sentencing in war crimes cases.  

The bill tilted 'International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Bill, 2013, seeking a provision for an equal right to appeal by the prosecution and defense and any aggrieved persons against the verdict of the ICT in cases of crimes against humanity committed during the country's Liberation War in 1971, was placed in the House on Wednesday.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed placed the bill amid thunderous clippings and thumping of the desks by the ruling grand alliance lawmakers in the Jatiya Sangsad with Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali in the chair.

The bill was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry for scrutiny and reporting back to the House within one-day.

Ends/AMA/13/02/13