Derogatory comments on judges: SC summons seven pro-BNP lawyers

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned seven pro-BNP lawyers, including former Attorney General A J Mohammad Ali and BNP Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kayser Kamal, on the charge of making derogatory comments about two apex court judges.

The other lawyers are--- Fahima Nasrin Munni, Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal.

The lawyers have been asked to appear before the court on January 15 in 2024 to explain their position.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order after holding hearing on a contempt of court petition.

Md Nazmul Huda, a pro-Awami League SC lawyer, filed the contempt of court petition with the Appellate Division accusing seven pro-BNP lawyers on August 29.

The pro-BNP lawyers at the press conference demanded that the two SC judges should be kept away from discharging judicial functions. Otherwise, they would demand the judges' resignations, according to the contempt of court petition.

The apex court also asked the lawyers to strictly follow the High Court directives that in 2005 prohibited them from holding assemblies and bringing out processions on the court premises.

Lawyer Nahid Sultana Juthi appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the petitioner, while lawyers Zainul Abedin, Mohsin Rashid and Syed Mamun Mahbub represented the seven pro-BNP lawyers.

Later Nahid Sultan Juthi said, “The accused lawyers have been asked to appear before the court on January 15 next. At the same time they have been asked to place their explanation over the allegation.

The apex court also asked the lawyers to strictly follow the High Court directives that in 2005 prohibited them from holding assemblies and bringing out processions on the court premises.”

Meanwhile, about 200 lawyers prayed to the Supreme Court to be included as a party in the contempt of court case filed against the seven lawyers. Mohsin Rashid, Convener of the Supreme Court Bar Ad Hoc Committee, and others made the prayer.

Pro-BNP lawyers of the Supreme Court on August 17 this year urged two judges of the SC’s Appellate Division to immediately step down as the lawyers feel the judges have violated their oath by making political statements while addressing a discussion marking the National Mourning Day on August 15.

Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a platform of the pro-BNP lawyers, made the demand from a press conference held at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Apart form this, anti-government lawyers, including pro-BNP lawyers, had been holding rallies on the apex court demanding the same.

In that circumstance, Md Nazmul Huda, a pro-Awami League SC lawyer, on August 29 filed a contempt of court petition with the Appellate Division accusing seven pro-BNP lawyers.

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