Asaf-ud-Daula exonerated

The High Court yesterday exempted Mohammad Asaf-ud-Daula, founder editor of the daily Bangladesh Today and a former secretary, from a contempt of court charge.
An HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain passed the exoneration order following Asaf-ud-Daula's undertaking that he would not make any derogatory comment about the court in future.
On August 19, Asaf-ud-Daula appeared before the court and sought unconditional apology in connection with the charge.
Asaf-ud-Daula made derogatory comments about the court in a report in the daily Samakal's August 7 issue.
On August 9, advocate Sheikh Ali Ahmed Khokon placed the news report before the court that issued a suo moto rule against Asaf-ud-Daula on charge of contempt of court the same day.
Barrister Siddiqur Rahman Khan and advocate Mamun Chowdhury appeared for Asaf-ud-Daula, while Deputy Attorney General stood for the government.