The High Court has exempted former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda from the contempt of court allegation after the Daily Star apologised citing that an error was committed in its report.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order on Tuesday morning.
Daily Star pleaded unconditional apology for their “wrong” report and the court acquitted it from the contempt charges
Daily star in its affidavit submitted to the bench on Tuesday said: "Due to error and inadvertent mistake in reproducing the statements of ATM Shamsul Huda The Daily Star prays for an unconditional apology before the High Court."
However, the newspaper's lawyer Tanjib-ul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that Star did not apologise on Tuesday rather told the court that the paper had already apologised publicly on May 29.
On May 29, the Daily Star published an open apology citing that an error was committed while translating the comment made by the former chief election commissioner.
“We sincerely regret this error and apologise for any damage caused to the image of the judiciary,” star said in the heading "We apologise."
Huda said in his affidavit: "He has never remotely had the intention to derogate from the respect and confidence that is accorded to the higher judiciary. We can express any sincere sorrow that an expression may have been conveyed from his alleged reported statement referred to the contempt rule."
Earlier, the High Court summoned Huda over his comment “the judiciary has also been politicised like other constitutional bodies” published in the Daily Star on May 18.
The court also issued a rule asking why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against Huda for maligning the dignity of the judiciary.
The court had asked him to appear before it in person on June 3.