The war crimes tribunal on Thursday adjourned the contempt hearing on Channel 24 officials and participants of a talk show for transmitting “false comments” on the trial of convict Salauddin Quader Chowdhury last month.
As counsels for the respondents of the contempt rule sought three weeks’ adjournment to place written explanation, the tribunal 1 set November 6 for the hearing.
Zafrullah Chowdhury, trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra and Mahfuz Ullah, secretary general of Centre for Sustainable Development – participants of the talk show “Muktobaak” which was aired on September 18 – suggested that Salauddin Quader had not been given the opportunity to place his witnesses and that his rights had been curtailed.
According to the petition filed by the prosecution on September 24, Zafrullah said the war crimes accused had wanted to place a sitting High Court judge to testify for him but the chief justice did not give him permission. The prosecution claimed that it was a sub-judicial matter and such remarks could malign the tribunal.
Earlier on September 26, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 issued the rule to the private television channel, represented by its managing director, and seven others to respond why contempt proceedings should not be brought against them. On Thursday was set for the reply.
In the order, the tribunal asked the two participants of the programme – to appear before it in person. The six others were asked to submit any explanations they may have.
On Thursday, the counsel for Mahfuz Ullah was present at the tribunal and sought an adjournment as his client was abroad.
Zafrullah appeared before the tribunal and submitted his written reply. He said he did not need a lawyer. The tribunal then asked him to submit a written application mentioning this.
The tribunal also asked him to come again together with Mahfuz Ullah and reply to the rule. Zafrullah then sought permission to submit his reply individually but the tribunal did not allow it.
During the hearing, the court room was packed with friends, relatives and lawyers of Zafrullah including ASM Abdur Rab, Shirin Huq and Farida Akhter. In response to the tribunal’s query why he was at the court, Abdur Rab said he went there only to visit the tribunal.
In his written reply, Zafrullah said by discussing in an open mind in Muktobaak, he committed no crime under the tribunal laws. He also claimed that he did not give any false statement but pointed out some matters over which the people of Bangladesh were already bothered.
At the end of his document, he appealed to the tribunal to exempt him from the charge to ensure the right to freedom of speech.
Another counsel of Channel 24 told the tribunal that it issued rule against some officials mentioning only some positions. He pleaded to issue the rules again mentioning the names.
Prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum said in his submission that the parties they mentioned were related with the talk show and so they had mentioned the posts only.
Hearing both the sides, the tribunal led by Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir told the prosecutor to resubmit the contempt petition mentioning the names.