7 pro-BNP lawyers cleared of contempt charges
Court orders petitioner to deposit Tk1 lakh fine to July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation
The Supreme Court today (3 November) cleared seven pro-BNP lawyers of contempt of court charges by dismissing an application submitted against them for organising demonstrations demanding the resignation of two Appellate Division judges last year.
The full bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed also fined the petitioner, pro-Awami League Supreme Court lawyer Md Nazmul Huda, Tk1 lakh for failing to appear before the court.
The court ordered Nazmul to deposit the money to the July Martyrs' Memorial Foundation – a fund created by the interim government to support the families of the victims of the July-August mass uprising – within three weeks.
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Senior lawyer Zainul Abedin, Barrister Md Badruddoza Badal, and Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon represented the seven lawyers during the hearing.
The seven are Kaiser Kamal, AJ Mohammad Ali, Fahima Nasrin Munni, Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Ruhul Kuddus Kajal, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan, and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal.
Mohammad Ali passed away in May this year.
Ali Azam, the counsel who represented the petitioner, notified the court that he had no directive to proceed with the case. Pro-AL lawyers Nahid Sultana Juthi and Shakila Raushan, who were named in the petition as Nazmul's party, were also absent in the court.
Zainul Abedin urged the court to impose the costs on the petitioner for failing to attend hearings repeatedly.
As the court fined Nazmul for non-compliance, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque – who represented the state during the hearing – supported the court's decision.
The contempt charges were brought against the seven lawyers by Nazmul on 29 August last year for organising press conferences and rallies demanding resignation of two Appellate Division judges – Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique.
On 15 November, 2023, the Appellate Division summoned the seven senior pro-BNP lawyers to explain their programmes held against two justices.
The court also directed them to strictly adhere to a High Court ruling prohibiting any form of procession or rally within the Supreme Court premises and all court areas.
On 12 June this year, the Appellate Division exempted the seven lawyers from appearing personally in the case. At the same time, they were also ordered to submit written explanations regarding the allegations of contempt.
