Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972*

(*no.58. Pub : 24th January, 1972- The above order made by the president on the advise
of the Prime Minister of the People's Republic Of Bangladesh on the 24th January, 1972
is hereby published for general information)

Presidents Order
No.8 of 1972

Whereas certain persons, individually or as members of organizations, directly or
indirectly, have been collaborators of the Pakistan Armed Forces, which had illegally
occupied Bangladesh by brute force and have aided or abetted the Pakistan Armed Forces
of occupation in committing genocide and crimes against humanity and in committing
atrocities against men, women and children and against the person, property and honor of
the civilian population of Bangladesh and have otherwise aided or co-operated with or
acted in the interest of Pakistan Armed Forces of occupation or contributed by any act,
word or sign towards maintaining, sustaining, strengthening, supporting or furthering the
illegal occupation of Bangladesh by the Pakistan Armed Forces or have waged war or
aided or abetted in waging war against People's Republic of Bangladesh.
And whereas such collaboration contributed towards the perpetration of a reign of terror
and the commission of crimes against humanity on a scale which has horrified the moral
consciences of the people of Bangladesh and of right thinking people throughout the
world;
And whereas it is imperative that such persons should be dealt with effectively and be
adequately punished in accordance with the due process of law;
And whereas it is expedient to provide for the setting up of Special Tribunals for
expeditious and fair trial of the offences committed by such persons;
Now therefore, in pursuance of the proclamation of Independence of Bangladesh Order,
1972 in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President is pleased to
make the following Order :

1. 1) This Order may be called the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order,
1972
2) It extends to the whole of Bangladesh.
3) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on the 26th
day of March,
1971.
In this Order, -
a) 'Code' means Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)
b) 'Collaborator' means a person who has-
(i) Participated with or aided or abetted the occupation army in maintaining, sustaining,
strengthening, supporting or furthering the illegal occupation of Bangladesh by such
army;
(ii) rendered material assistance in anyway whatsoever to the occupation army by any act,
whether by words, signs or conduct;
(iii) Waged war or abetted in waging war against the People's Republic Of Bangladesh;
(iv) Actively resisted or sabotaged the efforts of the people and the liberation forces of
Bangladesh in their liberation struggle against the occupation army;
(v) by a public statement or by voluntary participation in propaganda within or outside
Bangladesh on or by association in any delegation or committee or by participation in

purported by-elections attempted to aid or aided the occupation army in furthering its
design of perpetrating its forcible occupation in Bangladesh.
Explanation- a person who has performed in good faith functions which he was required
by any purported law in force at the material time to do shall not be deemed to be a
collaborator;
Provided that a person who has performed functions as direct object or result of which
was the killing of any member of the civil population or the liberation forces of
Bangladesh or the destruction of their property or the rape of or the criminal assault on
their womenfolk, even if done under purported law passed by the occupation army, shall
be deemed to be a collaborator.
c) "Government" means the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh:
d) "Liberation Forces" includes all forces of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
engaged in the liberation
of Bangladesh;
e) "Occupation Army" means the Pakistan Armed Forces engaged in the occupation of
Bangladesh.
f) "Special Tribunal" means a Tribunal under this order.
3(1) Any Police Officer or any person empowered by the Government in that behalf may,
without a warrant, arrest any person who may reasonably be suspected of having been a
collaborator.

(2) Any Police Officer on any person making an arrest under clause (1) shall forthwith
report such arrest
to the Government together with a pr