DRU President Shahed Chowdhury and General Secretary Elias Khan. Photo: Star file

The High Court today asked Dhaka Reporters Unity President Shahed Chowdhury and General Secretary Elias Khan to explain their statement over Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud's argument in a contempt of court case filed against Prothom Alo.  

Complying with the court order, both the journalists will have to appear before it on Wednesday.

The court issued the summon as Mahmud has drawn the attention of the High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed over the statement of the journalists published on two Bangla dailies--Somokal and Naya Diganta.

In a statement, Chowdhury and Khan termed Rokanuddin’s remark as false, defamatory and vindictive.

They also said Rokanuddin will have to prove his comment otherwise he had to withdraw his remark and apologies for it.

Mahmud, during the hearing of a contempt of court against Bangla daily Prothom Alo on Thursday, told the HC that "Taka Dile Sangbadikra Ek Rakam Lekhen, Na Dile Annya Rakam Lekhen, Sangbadikder Niyantroner Jannya Kono Prothishtan Nai" (the journalists write in a way when they are given bribes, writes in another way when they are not bribed, there is no organisation to control the journalists).

During today's hearing, Mahmud told the court that the statements of the journalists' leaders are a sub-judice matter which is similar to contempt of court.

Acting on Mahmud's statement, the bench also issued a contempt of court rule against the editor and publisher of Samakal and Naya Diganta for publishing the statements of the journalists.

Earlier on March 2, the HC issued a contempt of court rule on Prothom Alo for publishing an article headlined “Minute-e Ekti Agam Jamin Kivabe” (how an anticipatory bail possible in a minute) was published February 28.

Editor Matiur Rahman and Joint Editor Mizanur Rahman Khan have been asked to explain why the contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for publishing the article.