DHAKA: Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra said he would file a petition with the High Court challenging the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 that sentenced him to one-hour imprisonment and fined Tk 5,000 for the contempt of court.
Earlier in the day, ICT-2 sentenced Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, to one-hour imprisonment and fined for the contempt of court by signing a statement against its order.
The three-member ICT-2, headed by its chairman Justice Obaidul Hasan, passed the order on Wednesday.
The tribunal also exonerated 22 others eminent citizens after warning them of taking serious caution as they were found guilty for the first time. But the tribunal sentenced Zafrullah as it was his second time contempt of court.
As per the tribunal order, Dr Zafrullah has to stand at the dock for an hour and pay Tk 5,000, in default, will have to serve a further prison sentence for one month.
However, prior to that, Dr Zafrullah argued and misbehaved with the judges and said, ‘You (tribunal judges) misused your power’.
However, he served one-hour imprisonment from 12:49pm-1:49pm but declined to pay Tk 5,000 fine.
Coming out of the tribunal, he told reporters that he would not pay Tk 5,000 fine rather he will file appeal with higher court challenging the verdict.
Earlier on April 1, the tribunal has brought contempt of court charges against 23 dignitaries for issuing statement against British journalist David Bergman’s punishment.
The 23 dignitaries, who faced contempt charges, included Masud Khan, Afsan Chowdhury, Hana Shams Ahmed, Anu Mohammad, Anusheh Anadil, Lubna Mariam, Muktasree Chakma, AA Ziaur Rahman, Tahmima Anam, Samia Haque and Mukta Chowdhury.
It also included Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Shirin Huq, Dr CR Abrer, Farida Akhter, Dr Bina D Costa, Rehnuma Ahmed, Dr Shaheedul Alam, Lisa Gazi, Dr Jarina Nahar Kabir, Tibra Ali, Shabnam Nadia, Mahmud Rahman and Nasreen Siraj Anny.
However, Rezaur Rahman was exonerated of the charge as he sought unconditional apology through his lawyer.
Earlier, the ICT-2 exonerated a total of 25 eminent personalities from contempt of court charges in three phases accepting their apologies for a statement that was issued expressing concern over the punishment of David Bergman, a British human rights activist and journalist working in Dhaka.
The 10 dignitaries, who were exonerated on March 3, are Dr Ali Riaz, Dr Parween Hasan, Dr Firdous Azim, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Dr Faustina Pereira, Dr Deena M Siddiqi, Md Nur Khan Liton, Dr Samia Huq, Dr Seuty Sabur and Tasnim Sarah Shahabuddin.
Fifteen eminent persons, who exonerated from contempt charges on February 23, are Shahdin Malik, M Hafizuddin, Tahmima Anam, Badiul Alam Majumder, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Imtiaz Ahmed, Amena Mohsin, Naila Khan, Shahnaj Huda, Syeda Rezwana Hasan, Asif Nazrul, Zakir Hossain, Arup Rahee, Sahin Akhter and Ilira Dewan.
The court, on December 2, sentenced Bergman, editor (special reports) of daily New Age, to imprisonment until the court session ended and fined him Tk 5,000 for two articles he posted on his personal blog, which demeaned the court.
After that, Prothom Alo carried out a report under the heading 'Concern of 50 eminent citizens over Bergman punishment' on December 20, 2014.
On January 14, the tribunal asked the 49 personalities to explain by January 27 regarding their statement.
In compliance with the court order, 25 dignitaries had apologized in three phases while one of the signatories in the statement, Khushi Kabir, later withdrew her name.
BDST: 1606 HRS, JUN 10, 2015
RS/RR/SMS
** Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury jailed, fined
