2 top Shibir leaders apologise
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday exonerated two top leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir from contempt of court charges, as they apologised unconditionally for a media statement they had jointly issued criticising the war crimes verdict against Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam.
The tribunal, however, warned Abdul Jabbar and Atiqur Rahman, president and secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami's student organisation, to be more careful and respectful while making comments over judicial proceedings in future.
On January 1, the prosecution brought contempt charges against five leaders of Jamaat and Shibir including
the duo and a lawyer for their separate statements following death sentence awarded to Azharul Islam on December 30 last year.
They all submitted their individual reply following an order of the tribunal issued on January 12.
Tajul Islam, who defended Jamaat leaders facing war crimes cases, was exonerated from the charge and given an opportunity to “rectify himself” as he apologised unconditionally for his comment.
Jamaat acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad, acting secretary general Shafiqur Rahman and nayeb-e-ameer Mujibur Rahman were exempted from the charges as their statements did not attack the tribunal “directly”.
But the tribunal on May 4 began contempt proceedings against the Shibir leaders as their joint statement, which was published in Daily Sangram on December 31 last year, “prima facie appears to be extremely derogatory to the independence and image of the tribunal”.
The statement said: “... Inconsistency was everywhere in the case [against Azhar]. That judgement was not given on the basis of fair justice but on the reflection of speeches by the Awami League and their alliance, destructive agitators of Shahbagh.
“... If such trial continues as a weapon of an interested quarter to execute their political revenge, the public would have no other way to giving proper reply against such injustice,” it added.
But during contempt proceedings, the Shibir leaders sought unconditional apology and said they would not repeat the offence in future.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim yesterday said their statement was contemptuous and therefore they had committed contempt of court.
But the accused committed the offence for first time and sought unconditional apology, said the court. They were exonerated from the charge as they were given an opportunity to “rectify” themselves, it added.
Justice Anwarul Haque read out the order. Justice Jahangir Hossain was the other member of the tribunal.
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