Ex Post Facto Prosecution of International Crimes in the Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal: An Issue of Constitutionality
Abstract
Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal-a domestic criminal court is currently prosecuting the offenders of atrocious crimes perpetrated in the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. Though the atrocious offenses took place in 1971, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act 1973 was decreed by Bangladeshi Parliament in 1973, and the Tribunal was established in 2010; hence the ICT Act 1973 is considered as an ex post facto (retrospective) legislation because it has been promulgated after the commission of the crimes. Therefore, this study first analyzes the importance of ex post facto law’s prohibition in customary international law. Secondly, the study highlights how the 1973 ICT Act applies to prosecute the ICTB’s defendants retrospectively by amending the constitution of Bangladesh. Thirdly, it examines the ex post facto legislation’s application in the Bangladesh Tribunal and the issue of constitutionality because rules on the prohibition of retrospective legislation is one of the fundamental rights of every citizen that need to be safeguarded by every constitution of civilized nations. Lastly, this study's originality proves that ex post facto law’s application in the ICTB is unconstitutional. Then, this research paper concludes by inferring that the government of Bangladesh needs to amend the constitution to prohibit the ex post facto law’s implementation through the Tribunal that will enhance the legal acceptability of the War Crimes Court because the recent Criminal Court in question is operating under the Bangladeshi government.
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References
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