The High Court has ignored contempt of court charges against Samakal, Naya Diganta and seven journalists.
Justices Naima Haider and Zafar Ahmed cleared them of the charges after they apologised unconditionally during hearing on the contempt rule on Wednesday.
Lawyer Rokanuddin Mahmud had commented on the media and journalists during a contempt rule hearing against Prothom Alo’s Joint Editor Mizanur Rahman Khan last week.Four journalist bodies – the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA), Jagannath University Journalists’ Association (JnUJA) and Barisal Division Journalists’ Association (BDJA) issued separate statement against Mahmud’s remark last Saturday.
They demanded expunction of the lawyer’s statement published in ‘Doinik Samakal’ and ‘Naya Diganta’.
The next day, a contempt rule was issued against the editors, publisher and printers of the newspapers when Mahmud drew the attention of the judges to the statement.
The seven journalists are DRU President Shahed Chowdhury and General Secretary Ilias Khan, DUJA President MM Jasim and Secretary Saddam Hossain, JnUJA President Kazi Mobarak Hossain and Secretary M Sujaul Hossain and BDJA President Abdur Rahman and General Secretary Ilias Khan and asked them to appear before the bench on Wednesday.
Ilias Khan is General Secretary of both DRU and BDJA.
There was tension in the packed courtroom following a heated altercation between lawyers and the many reporters who were there to cover the hearing.
The judges, at one point, left the room as the scuffle continued. The police rushed in, drove out the reporters and closed the courtroom.
The judges returned after the situation became normal and held a partial hearing where they excused the journalists from being summoned in person.
Lawyer Shahdin Malik came to court to represent Samakal and the seven journalists. He was accompanied by Md Monjur Alam.
Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem and Ehsan A Siddiqui were present on behalf of Naya Diganta.
The morning’s mayhem was discussed.
“This matter was highly undesirable. Both lawyers and journalists were present in the courtroom during the 8th Amendment case.” said a judge before the verdict.
“There were videos taken inside the courtroom today, which is never expected. Care should be taken so that this does not happen in future.”
“The case is being dismissed because everyone has apologised unconditionally,” said the judge.
“This means everyone has been cleared of the charges,” said Shahdin Malik.
“We said we apologise if there was any contempt,” said Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem.-bdnews24.com
