Contempt plea against Mahbub disposed of

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday disposed of a contempt petition filed against BNP chairperson's adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain with an observation about the need to be careful and respectful in making comments on the judiciary.
After the tribunal had handed down capital punishment on war crimes convict BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on October 1, 2013, Mahbub at a press conference said if voted to power, his party would try those involved in the trial.
Mahbub also said, “If the nationalist force [BNP] comes to power, they will try those, who are war criminals in the real sense. Those who were tried out of vengeance and the cases, which were prepared on the basis of fairy tales, must go. And those who were involved in the farcical trial, Inshallah [if Allah wishes], they will also be tried on the soil of Bangladesh.”
The prosecution filed a contempt petition saying such comments were a threat to the tribunal, judges and the prosecution.
The defence, on the other hand, claimed the comment was not meant for the judiciary, as the judges were not a party to the trial proceedings.
The three-member tribunal also believes the remark was not meant for the judges. They, however, observed that such remarks were not expected from Khandaker Mahbub, who is the vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council and a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Member of the tribunal Justice Anwarul Haque read out the order.
AKRAM SENT TO JAIL
The tribunal sent war crimes suspect Khan Akram Hossain to jail after he was hauled before it yesterday morning.
Akram, 60, was arrested in Rajshahi city on Friday in connection with 'Shankharikathi Bazar' massacre in Bagerhat's Kachua upazila during the Liberation War in 1971.
After Akram was produced before the tribunal around 11:30am, its Chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim directed prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman Badal to facilitate the war crimes suspect's communication with his relatives so that he could appoint his defence to face the case.
Akram of Morelganj upazila in Bagerhat had gone into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the tribunal on June 10.
In 2009, a war crimes victim and freedom fighter Nimai Chandra Das of Raghuduttakathi village filed a case against 20-30 people, including Akram and Abdul Latif Talukder, with a Bagerhat court after the government had initiated the war crimes trial.
The case was later shifted to Tribunal-1 and an agency started its investigation on May 21, 2013.
On June 11, police arrested Abdul Latif.
In primary investigation, Akram was found involved in killing 42 people at 'Shankharikathi Bazar' and looting and torching shops on May 5, 1971, Assistant Superintendent of Police Helal Uddin, investigation officer in the case, said after Akram's arrest.
Apart from that, there is an allegation against him of forcibly converting 200 Hindus, Helal added.
Latif's lawyer M Sarwar Hossain has meanwhile filed two petitions with the tribunal for privileged communication before interrogation and bail.
The tribunal chairman said it was not possible to facilitate the defence to have privileged communication before interrogation.
The tribunal has, however, kept the petitions and fixed July 6 for necessary orders.
Yesterday was also fixed for cross-examination of the investigation officer of another war crimes case against Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam, but the defence prayed for more time.
The tribunal fixed June 29 for cross-examination.