DHAKA: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 fixed April 5 to hear the contempt charge against advocate Tajul Islam and five leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir for making adverse comment over its judgment.

The accused leaders are Jamaat’s acting Ameer Makbul Ahmed, acting Nayeb-e-ameer Mahibur Rahman and acting secretary general Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and Shibir president Abdul Jabbar and its general secretary Mohammad Atikur Rahman.

A three-member ICT team, headed by its chairman M Enayetur Rahim, fixed April 5 for next hearing in response to a time petition of the defense lawyers.

In the petition, they sought two-week time on ground of preparation by newly appointed lawyer Advocate AY Moshiuzzaman for hearing.

On February, Advocate Nazrul Islam submitted explanations of Jamaat Shibir leaders in reply to show cause notice.

On January 28, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders’ lawyer advocate Tajul Islam apologized before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 unconditionally.

Supreme Court Lawyers’ Association general secretary Barrister Badruddoza Badal and Advocate Ruhul Kudds Kajal submitted Tajul’s written explanation with apology unconditionally.

On January 12, the ICT has issued show-cause notice to five leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir along with their lawyer Advocate Tajul Islam.

The ICT has asked them to explain by January 28 why contempt of court proceedings should not be moved against them for their statements given to the media on the verdict of death penalty of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam.

On December 30, ATM Azhar was sentenced to death on three charges of genocide, mass killing and crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

The ICT accused them of contempt of court as they called hartal for December 31 and January 1 protesting the verdict of the tribunal and commented on its judgment negatively to the media.

BDST: 1814 HRS, MAR 22, 2015