The investigation agency of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) handed over the documents of four war crimes cases to the Directorate of Archives and Libraries yesterday.

The initiative, which is first of its kind, was taken so that future generations can know more about the 1971 Liberation War and can conduct researches on the issue.

While observing International Archives Day, the Directorate of Archives and Libraries organised the handing over ceremony in an auditorium of National Library of Bangladesh in Dhaka.

The documents of cases, which were disposed of, were handed over on the occasion. Four war criminals -- Abdul Quader Molla, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Chowdhury Moeen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan -- were convicted in the cases.

The documents include written complaints, investigation reports, statements of witnesses, documentary evidence -- including books, newspapers and verdicts.

Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of the investigation agency, handed over the documents. He said more documents will be given to the directorate later.

Dilip Kumar Saha, director general (DG) of the Directorate of Archives and Libraries; and Simin Hossain Rimi, president of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, were present.

At the programme, Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of the agency, said, “We want to preserve the documents for the new generations… and would request the authorities concerned to put those in the archive with utmost care.”

He also said they had to struggle to find such documents at the initial stage because very few of those were recorded.

These documents will help researchers, he said.

Directorate of Archives and Libraries DG Dilip Kumar Saha said, “A national archive can safeguard a country's history.”

He said archiving is also necessary for good governance because important documents related to the issue are recorded.

Those work as evidence, he added.

Additional Secretary to Public Service Commission Manjurur Rahman and Rajshani University Professor Chittaranjan Misra presented the keynote speech on the importance of archiving and its relation with good governance.