JS votes for trial of war criminals

Parliament on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution on the "immediate" trial of war criminals.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina urged the speaker to adopt the resolution as the property of the House.

"I categorically say we must try war criminals. It is our election pledge," said the PM.

Speaker Abdul Hamid placed the resolution, proposed by Mahmud-us-Samad MP for Sylhet-3, into vote.

All the ruling party lawmakers shouted "yes" in favour of the resolution.

It was passed in the absence of the main opposition party BNP and its allies, against whom there are allegations of war crimes. The opposition MPs boycotted the House on the day over a dispute on seating arrangements.

"The proposal on the trial of war criminals has been accepted unanimously by the House," Hamid announced.