A war crimes tribunal found Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury guilty of contempt of court and imprisoned him in the dock yesterday for his statement expressing concern over the conviction of Bangladesh-based UK journalist David Bergman.
The International Crimes Tribunal 2 led by Justice Obaidul Hassan ordered to hold him in the dock under police vigilance for one hour and also fined Tk5,000. He will have to serve a month in prison in default.
Twenty-two signatories of the statement were exonerated but warned by the tribunal. It said they had committed contempt for the first time. “They were warned by the tribunal over any statement they make in the future,” prosecutor Tureen Afroze told reporters after the order.
This was Zafrullah’s contempt for the second time, the court said adding that he should have been given “significant punishment” but was considered because of his age.
Zafarullah was warned by the tribunal last year for his comments on the trial of war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
After yesterday’s order, Zafrullah, a freedom fighter, said he would not pay the fine and appeal with the higher court.
“I did not commit contempt of court,” he claimed adding that the tribunal had failed to prove contempt allegations against him. “I simply criticised the procedure of keeping someone standing while pronouncing the verdict,” he said.
Zafrullah is a winner of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asia’s Nobel prize, for his contributions to improving lives in Bangladesh,
Those who were exonerated yesterday are Masud Khan, Afsan Chowdhury, Ziaur Rahman, Hana Shams Ahmed, Anu Muhammad, Anusheh Anadil, Muktasree Chakma Sathi, Lubna Marium, Farida Akhter, Shireen Huq, Ali Ahmed Ziauddin, Rahnuma Ahmed, Shahdul Alam, CR Abrar, Bina D’Costa, Mahmud Rahman, Zarina Nahar Kabir, Leesa Gazi, Shabnam Nadiya, Nasrin Siraj Annie, Tibra Ali and Delwar Hussain.
Bergman, editor (special reports) of the daily New Age, was found guilty of contempt on December 2 last year for two of his blog posts of January 2013 on the verdict of Abul Kalam Azad, also known as Bachchu Razakar. He was sentenced to imprisonment “till rising of the court” that day and fined Tk5,000 for “creating confusion” about a sub-judice matter through his “irresponsible” writings.
Reports on a statement issued “expressing concern” over the conviction by 50 citizens were published on newspapers, including the daily Prothom Alo on December 20.
The tribunal felt the news cast aspersion on Bangladesh’s judiciary and asked the daily to furnish the “full copy” of the statement. On December 18, the newspaper submitted to the court identity and contact details of Hana Shams Ahmed, who had mailed the statement on behalf of the 50 citizens.
Later twenty-six of the signatories apologised unconditionally to the court and were acquitted from the contempt charges. Rights activist Khushi Kabir disowned being part of the statement.
On April 1, the tribunal issued a contempt rule against the remaining 23. After hearing their explanations on May 14, the court kept the verdict pending.
On February 23, the tribunal acquitted 14 citizens after they issued unconditional apologies. They are lawyer Shahdeen Malik; SHUJAN President M Hafiz Uddin Khan and Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar; former adviser to a caretaker government Rashida K Chowdhury; Dhaka University teachers Prof Asif Nazrul, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed and Prof Amena Mohsin; Shishu Bikash Kendra’s Dr Naila Zaman Khan and Dr Shahnaz Huda; environmental activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan; rights activist Zakir Hossain; singer Arup Rahi; writer Shahin Akhter and rights activist Ilora Dewan.
Ten others were cleared of contempt charges after they apologised unconditionally on March 3. They are Illinois State University teacher Ali Riaz; Parvin Hasan; Brac University teachers Firdaus Azim and Samia Haque; publisher Mahiuddin Ahmed; rights activist Justine Pereira; Ain O Shalish Kendra Director Nur Khan Liton; Seuti Sabur; Tasnim Sara Shahabuddin; and writer Tahmina Anam.
Later, Dina M Siddiqui and rights activist Rezaur Rahman were also cleared by the court as they apologised.
