The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) 2 has drawn contempt proceedings against 23 eminent citizens, asking them to show cause, why they shall not be punished for contempt of court.
The tribunal on Wednesday also set April 23 to submit their reply.
The 23 citizens are Shireen Huq, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Ali Ahmed Ziauddin, Dr CR Abrar, Farida Akhter, Dr Bina D'Costa, Afsan Chowdhury, Rahnuma Ahmed, Dr Shahidul Alam, Leesa Gazi, Anu Mohammad, Lubna Marium, Muktashree Chakma Sathi, Dr Zarina Nahar Kabir, Shabnam Nadia, Mahmud Rahman, Nasreen Siraj Annie, Anusheh Anadil, Tibra Ali, Delwar Hossain, Masud Khan, Ziaur Rahman and Hana Shams Ahmed.
The tribunal also asked the concerned missions of Bangladesh to relay the order to the contemnors living abroad.
The ICT 2 on January 14, issued contempt notice against 49 'renowned citizens', who had expressed concern through a statement published on daily Prothom Alo after British journalist and blogger David Bergman's punishment by the tribunal, asking them to explain their statement and conduct.
Based on their explanations, the tribunal on two past dates exonerated 25 from the allegation of committing contempt of court.
Today the tribunal exonerated Rezaur Rahman, from the allegation as he tendered unconditional apology to the court.
Bergman, a special reports' editor of daily New Age, got the punishment for committing contempt of court on December 2, 2014, for what the court deemed his irrelevant criticism of the trial process on his personal blog and for demeaning the court.
After that, Prothom Alo carried out a report under the heading 'Concern of 50 eminent citizens over Bergman punishment' on December 20.
Later, rights activist Khushi Kabir, whose name was also there, withdrew her statement.