Fazlur Rahman cleared of contempt charges after offering apology
The prosecution of the ICT filed a contempt of court petition against Fazlur for making what it called derogatory remarks about the tribunal and trials concerning crimes against humanity committed during July and August last year.
BNP leader Advocate Fazlur Rahman has been exempted from contempt of court charges after offering an unconditional apology for remarks about the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
The three-member ICT-1 bench, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumder, issued the order today (8 December) after hearing Fazlur's petition seeking an unconditional apology.
Senior Supreme Court lawyers Zainul Abedin and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for Fazlur, while ICT Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim represented the prosecution.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
At the beginning of the hearing, Fazlur stood before the bench. With the tribunal's permission, he later took his seat. At one stage, he sought the tribunal's compassion for remarks he had made on a television talk show and tendered an unconditional apology. The tribunal then cautioned him and exempted him from the contempt proceedings.
Earlier at 11am, the BNP leader arrived on the ICT premises accompanied by a group of lawyers.
Previously, the prosecution of the ICT filed a contempt of court petition against Fazlur for making what it called derogatory remarks about the tribunal and trials concerning crimes against humanity committed during July and August last year.
The petition was submitted on 26 November before the single-member ICT-1 bench of retired district and sessions judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
The contempt allegation stems from Advocate Fazlur Rahman's comments, including "Ami e bichar mani na," made during Channel 24's talk show Muktobak on 23 November, where he reportedly criticised the tribunal's structure and judicial process.
