The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is a domestic war crimes tribunal, an institution established in Bangladesh to prosecute individuals for mass atrocities. Its purpose is to address genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes under international law committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The legal basis for the tribunal is the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, which was enacted shortly after independence. Although the Act was passed in 1973, the tribunal was re-established by the Awami League government in 2009 to fulfill a long-standing pledge, with the first tribunal (ICT-1) becoming functional on March 25, 2010.
The ICT operates under the 1973 Act, which was amended in 2009 to update it. A key mechanism is that the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 and the Evidence Act, 1872 do not apply to its proceedings. The Act covers crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against peace. It connects to broader international law, as the Act was amended to use the definitions for "Crimes against Humanity" from Article 7(2) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Furthermore, Section 4(2) of the Act incorporates the principle of command responsibility, holding superior officers liable for failing to prevent crimes. A person convicted by the Tribunal has a right to appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
The tribunal has recently undergone a significant change: following the political upheaval of July-August 2024, its scope was expanded. The ICT is no longer limited to addressing the legacy of 1971 but is now empowered to prosecute a much wider range of international crimes.