The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

It is the responsibility of the government, not of the Election Commission to try the war criminals of 1971, said Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday.

"The government will have to take the decision whether it wants to try the war criminals. It is not the responsibility of the Election Commission," he said while speaking at an opinion sharing meeting before inaugurating the photograph attached voter list preparations in Kaliganj of Gazipur district yesterday..

He, however, said Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh would have to bring some amendments to its constitution for registration as a political party with the Election Commission.

Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Syed Mizanur Rahman presided over the meeting.

Election Commissioner Sakhawat Hossain said expenses in the coming parliamentary election would be less compared to the election expenses in the previous general elections.

"The Election Commission will have the right to cancel the candidature of any candidate if his or her election expenditures cross the specific limit," he said.

When asked whether the trial of the war criminals would actually be held or not, Sakhawat said it is a legal process. "Law will decided about it. And, the trial of war criminals is under the jurisdiction of the government, not under the Election Commission. The government itself will have to take the respeonsibility in this regard," he said.

Replying to a question about registration of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh as a political party with the Election Commission, the Election Commissioner said they (Jamaat-e-Islami) would have to bring some changes to its constitution for registration as a political party with the Election Commission.