The Appellate Division has asked six pro-BNP lawyers to give a written explanation by July 25 regarding the allegations of contempt of court. Besides, they have been exempted from personal appearance in court.
The four-member Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan gave this order on Wednesday. Along with that, the hearing has been adjourned till the time of written explanation of those lawyers i.e. till next 25th July.
On August 29 last year, seven pro-BNP lawyers were charged with contempt of court on the basis of statements made in a press conference about two judges of the Appellate Division. The application was made by the lawyer of the Supreme Court. Nazmul Huda.
Seven pro-BNP lawyers are Kaiser Kamal, AJ Muhammad Ali, Fahima Nasreen, Md. Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Md. Ruhul Quddus, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan and Gazi Kamrul Islam.
On November 15, the Appellate Division ordered the hearing of the petition alleging contempt of court. The Appellate Division ordered seven pro-BNP lawyers to appear in the Appellate Division (Court No. 1) at nine in the morning on January 15 to explain their role in the question raised in the contempt of court petition based on the statement given in the press conference. They appeared in court on the appointed date.
Today, the matter came up again in the court. Among the seven lawyers, senior lawyer AJ Muhammad Ali died. Six other lawyers appeared in court today.
Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin and AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon appeared on their behalf.
In the hearing, senior lawyer Zainul Abedin said that everyone except late senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali is present. They are all members of the Bar Association. They feel that it is their responsibility to protect the image and dignity of the court. Something happened. No matter what, we appear in court. Honor of the court, our honor.
In the hearing, the court said, speaking with the mouth, or the words of the heart?
Then lawyer Zainul Abedin said, the words are real. We think so too.
The court said the conduct was asked to be explained. Explained? Then Zainul Abedin said, I have appeared in this case today.
At one stage the court said, give a written statement. Then the court will consider.
The Appellate Division ordered them (six lawyers) to be exempted from personal appearance by asking them to submit their written explanation by July 25. Lawyer AJ Muhammad Ali’s name was omitted due to his death.
Incidentally, in the contempt of court petition, a few lines of the speech given at the press conference at the Supreme Court Lawyers’ Association building on August 27 last year have been quoted. Apart from this, the photo of pro-BNP lawyers marching with banners and leaflets about judges has been added to the application.