Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury sticks to his guns over the ICT trial process
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday held back till November 6 the hearing of the pretrial contempt petition against Channel 24 , a private satellite TV network, on its impugned talk-show titled ‘Muktobaak’ aired on September 18 over the transparency of the war crimes trial process.
Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, chairman of the three-member tribunal, passed the order following time petitions moved by a counsel for the talk-show participants Mahfuzullah of Centre for Sustainable Development, now abroad, and Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury of Gonoshasthaya, who appeared in person in compliance with its order, and the counsel for other notice receivers of Channel 24 officials.
Appearing before the tribunal, Dr Zafrullah submitted a written reply to the alleged contempt petition and prayed for facing the matter himself without engaging any lawyer. He also urged the tribunal to allow him to read out the reply to the alleged contempt made against him.
In reply, the tribunal asked him to submit a written application in a plain sheet of paper in this regard.
After receiving his application, the tribunal interrupted Dr Zafrullah saying that it wants to hear the matter all together and that is why it needs a fresh date.
In his written reply, Dr Zafrullah sticking to his position that he had expressed on the TV talk-show and prayed for letting him off the alleged charge, recognising his right to freedom of speech.
“I didn’t make any offence by making open statement about the ICT,” claimed Dr Zafrullah.
He added: “I didn’t resort to any make-believe, false and imaginary statement and didn’t create impediment to the trial process and I also didn’t make any offence to create any hatred and no-confidence in the minds of the people about the tribunal. Rather, I‘ve discharged my duty as ‘a friend of the court’.”
On September 26, responding to a prosecution plea, the tribunal asked the management of Channel 24 to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for airing the ‘scandalous’ talk-show titled ‘Muktobaak’ at 11 pm on September 18 over the 1971 war crimes accused Salauddin Quader Chowdhury MP of BNP.
The tribunal order said: “On perusal of the application for contempt and witnessing the ‘Muktobaak’ talk-show through DVD, we find that Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and Mahfuzullah without knowing the facts have deliberately criticized the court proceedings.”
“Upon scrutiny of the criticisms made by the two participants on subjudice matter, we’re of the opinion that they have made false and fabricated statements on subjudice matter,” said the tribunal.
The tribunal further said there are reasonable grounds to draw up contempt proceedings as they, without knowing the factual aspects of the case, most unethically tried to give a message to the people that accused Salauddin Quader has been deprived of proving his defence case.
Source: UNB Connect