DHAKA: International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 ordered 49 eminent personalities to explain their statement on its verdict against David Bergman, British journalist, and punishment to him for contempt of court.

They were also asked to place their explanations before the tribunal on their statement and behavior by January 27.

The three-member ICT-2 led-by its chairman Obaidul Hasan passed the order and further order would be issued in this regard on January 27.

As 11 personalities out of 49 stayed in overseas countries so Foreign Ministry has been asked to inform the people through concerned embassy and collect their explanation and submit those.
 
On December 2, the tribunal ruled that British journalist David Bergman was guilty of contempt for demeaning the tribunal through derogatory post on his blog.

The court ordered him to pay a fine of Tk 5000 or go to prison for seven days.

Later, some 49 eminent personalities expressed concern over the punishment of journalist David Bergman for contempt of court.

Bangla national daily The Prothom Alo, on December 20, published a report titled ‘some 50 people express concern over Bergman’s punishment’.

On December 28, the tribunal asked the Prothom Alo to submit the full text of a statement where some 50 eminent personalities expressed concern over the conviction of David Bergman for contempt of court.

Dr Shahdin Malik on Wednesday submitted details of the 50 personalities including their present address. Earlier, the Prothom Alo submitted main copy of statement signed by 50 personalities on Tuesday.  

Later, Khushi Kabir, one of 55 persons, said she did not sign any such statement or she does not know anything about the matter.  So she was acquitted from the allegation.

Later on December 23, The New York Times also published an editorial titled “Muzzling Speech in Bangladesh” criticizing the conviction of Bergman.

In its order, the tribunal said that it failed to understand how an international repute daily newspaper asks a court of a sovereign country by saying - ‘it should immediately overturn Bergman’s sentence’.

BDST: 1446 HRS, JAN 14, 2015