DHAKA: International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 Thursday fixed October 13 for delivering order regarding the contempt of court charges against journalist David Bergman, a British national, for derogatory remarks on its verdict.

The three-member tribunal led-by Justice Obaidul Hassan fixed the date after the completion of arguments submitted by the lawyers of both the plaintiff and defense in presence of Bergman.

Lawyer Mostafizur Rahman Khan moved for David Bergman while Advocate Mizan Sayeed was the prosecutor.

David Bergman, a special correspondent of country’s English daily New Age, is also son-in-law of Dr Kamal Hossain.

Earlier, High Court lawyer Advocate Abul Kalam Azad filed a contempt of court allegation against journalist David Bergman for his derogatory comments on the International Criminal Tribunal-2 in his blog on November 11, 2011 and January 28, 2013.

He also sought a directive as to why a show cause notice should not be issued against Bergman for his remarks about the trial procedure and verdict of ICT in the blog. 

After a hearing, on February 20, the tribunal asked David Bergman to explain his position through his lawyer or by himself on March 6.

The court fixed March 18 as the date as his lawyer Mostafizur Rahman plead to the court for two weeks.

On April 17, Bergman reported to court and explained his statement but the ICT found his explanations inadequate and issued a rule asking why it would not take punitive actions against him.

According to the plea, journalist Bergman, on his own website (bangladeshwarcrimes.blogspot.com), released several controversial articles like ‘Azad Judgment analysis -1: In absentia trial & Defense inadequacy’ and ‘Azad Judgment analysis -II: Tribunal’s assumption’.

Sources in the tribunal said Bergman had been warned once before by the tribunal. 

Regarding framing crimes against humanity charges against Delwar Hossain Sayedee by the tribunal on October 2, 2011, ‘The New Age’ published Bergman’s write-up titled ‘A crucial period for ICT’ in its editorial page.

The tribunal had issued a show cause notice against reporter David Bergman, The New Age editor Nurul Kabir and publisher ASM Shahidullah Khan for contempt of court.

After a hearing, on February 19, 2012, the tribunal issued a warning to David Bergman.

At that time, the tribunal upheld the contempt of court charge but the accused were let off with a warning.

David Bergman has allegedly been working as a paid agent of Jamaat-e-Islami though, in an interview to Tehelka.com of India, he denied the allegation and described it as tragic.

BDST: 1657 HRS, SEP 04, 2014