Mahmudur convicted again, fined Tk 100

The Supreme Court yesterday convicted Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of the daily Amar Desh, of contempt of court for the second time, and fined him Tk 100.
In case of failure to pay the fine, he will have to serve one day's simple imprisonment.
Hasmat Ali, publisher of the daily, was exonerated from the contempt charge.
The apex court delivered this judgement after hearing a contempt of court petition for a commentary headlined "Swadhin bicharer name tamasa" (farce in the name of fair trial) published in his daily on May 10.
A three member-bench headed by Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque gave the judgement.
The contempt petition was filed by SC lawyers Reaz Uddin Khan and Kazi Mynul Hassan.
Earlier, on August 19, the SC convicted Mahmudur of contempt of court and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, and fined him Tk 1 lakh.
The verdict followed a petition filed by the same lawyers-- Reaz and Mynul-- for a report headlined "Chamber manei sarkar pakkhe stay" [Chamber bench means stay order in favour of the government] published in his daily on April 21.
The SC verdict yesterday said Mahmudur has scandalised this court through such commentary, and committed contempt of court.
The court however said it has taken the matter leniently.
Earlier in the morning, the jail authorities produced detained Mahmudur before the court as per its earlier order.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appreared for the government and Additional Attorney General MK Rahman for the petitioners. Barrister Abdur Razzaq argued for Mahmudur and Hasmat.