Contempt petition filed against two SC lawyers over remarks on ICT verdict

The prosecution filed a contempt of court petition on Wednesday against two Supreme Court lawyers for making comments about the death sentences handed down to seven accused, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the development, saying the petition was filed over the lawyers’ comments on the verdict delivered by International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2).

The two lawyers are  M Hasanuzzaman Tushar and Barrister Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury.

ICT-2 summoned them to appear before the tribunal on September 23 and explain their alleged contemptuous remarks about the verdict.

The tribunal said it would first hear the two lawyers’ statements before deciding whether their remarks amounted to contempt of court.

On Tuesday, ICT-2, headed by its Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, sentenced all seven accused to death.

State-appointed defence lawyers M Hasan Imam and Israt Jahan represented the accused in the case, while prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim represented the prosecution.

Besides Obaidul Quader, the other accused are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and banned Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan.