Witnesses under constant threat:Daily Sun

The witnesses in the cases of crimes against humanity are facing insecurity and threat for lack of ‘Witness Protection Act’ and other necessary steps by the state. According to sources, the trial of crimes against humanity is being conducted one by one on the basis of the evidence given by these witnesses, and the accused are being awarded punishment, including death. The trial and getting rid of

the stigma of the nation would not have been possible, had these people not shown the courage to give evidence in the court. But they are not getting proper protection from the government. Many of them suffered brutal torture during the Liberation War in 1971 and again are facing the death threat for testifying in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Their lives have become unbearable due to various threats and insecurity as even the ‘Witness Protection Act’ is yet to be made. Under these circumstances, the prosecution witnesses in the ICT cases have plunged into a helpless condition, with their lives being totally insecure. Hasena Banu is a Birangana (freedom fighter) of the ‘village of widows’ at Sohagpur in Sherpur. She lost her husband Abdul Latif in 1971 and now workd in others’ houses at this old age. She, however, gets some money as ‘widow allowance’. She gave evidence against Al-Badr leader Kamaruzzaman before the ICT. On the basis of her evidence, Kamaruzzaman was awarded death sentence and ultimately hanged. Hasena Banu is happy over the execution of Kamaruzzaman, but she is worried about her security. Because, the security arrangements made by the government are neither enough, nor permanent. Jalaluddin was witness number seven in the case against, Kamaruzzaman. He is an inhabitant of the ‘village of  widows’ at Sohagpur. The death penalty was awarded to Kamaruzzaman on the basis of the evidence given by him. He is under constant threat from the local activists of Jamaat-Shibir. The law ministry had taken initiative to enact a law for the protection of prosecution witnesses in the trial of crimes against humanity and other important criminal cases. The then Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday that the responsibility of making a witness protection law lies with the home ministry. We had submitted a draft of law in this regard to the home ministry in 2011. But the matter did not make any headway. This law is essential, he added. Law Minister Advocate Anisul Huq said protection cannot be ensured to the witnesses only by enacting a law. There are many other aspects for ensuring security, he said adding “We are thinking over how to provide security for the witnesses.” Mostofa Hawlader of Pirojpur, a witness against Delwar Hossain Sayeedi in the ICT case was attacked on December 7, 2013. He died in Dhaka on December 9.  On the following day, December 10, the ICT itself expressed concern about the security of the witnesses. The tribunal said addressing the prosecutors present “If you do not provide security, then why do you bring them to give evidence? You take immediate steps. You tell the government, it will not be possible to bring witnesses if security is not ensured for them.” But the government has not taken any effective step yet in this regard. (With inputs from Rezaul Karim.)