ICT-2 clears ten more of contempt of court charge

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday exonerated 10 more eminent people from proceedings for contempt of court, as they apologised unconditionally for a statement they issued expressing concern over the sentence of Dhaka-based British journalist David Bergman for demeaning it.

Earlier on February 23, the tribunal exonerated 14 of the total 49 signatories as they had also apologised unconditionally for their statement.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam also fixed March 18 to pass further order on the remaining 25 signatories following time prayers.

The tribunal gave the time to the signatories' lawyers as the last chance.

The dignitaries exonerated yesterday are Parween Hasan, Ali Riaz, Tahmima Anam, Nur Khan Liton, Faustina Pereira, Seuty Sabur, Firdous Azim, Samia Huq, Mohiuddin Ahmed and Sarah Shehabuddin.

The same tribunal on December 2 last year sentenced Bergman, editor (special reports) of the daily New Age, to imprisonment until the end of the court session on that day and fined him Tk 5,000 for two articles he posted on his personal blog.

Over two weeks later, 50 people issued the statement, observing that the tribunal's order would restrict freedom of expression. One of them, Khusi Kabir, later pulled out her name.