The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has fixed August 30 to give an order in the contempt of court case against freedom fighter and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury for his disrespectful remarks about its judges.
The three-member ICT-2, led by Justice Obaidul Hassan, set the date yesterday after hearing arguments from both the petitioner and defence counsels.
Zafrullah Chowdhury’s lawyer Baset Mazumder said Zafarullah was present at the court, and a video clip containing his remarks was shown on a large screen inside the court room.
The Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and Magsaysay Award winner on Sunday had offered an unconditional apology before the tribunal for his remarks.
Sayed Ahmed Raza, a counsel for Zafrullah, submitted the mercy petition before the three-member tribunal who had set yesterday to hear the matter.
That day, freedom fighter Zafrullah was present at the tribunal during the submission. Video footage containing his comments was shown inside the court.
On June 10, Zafrullah had served a one-hour imprisonment in the courtroom and was fined Tk5,000 for criticising a verdict that penalised Bangladesh-based UK journalist David Bergman in December on contempt charges.
Emerging from the courtroom, he told the media: “Today’s contempt of court verdict is proof of the mental illness of the three judges. Ensuring justice is not possible if the judges cannot take criticism. When they cannot stand criticism and lack rationality, they hide themselves under the cover of the law.”
Based on these remarks, a petition seeking contempt proceedings was filed against the Magsaysay Award winner by three freedom fighters and two organisers of Gonojagoron Moncho. In response, the tribunal sought an explanation from Zafrullah.
He in turn also filed a petition with the Supreme Court refusing to pay the fine imposed by the tribunal. After the hearing, the apex court quashed the tribunal’s judgement as he tendered an unconditional apology.
