The High Court has summoned Jamaat-e-Islami Acting Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan and Central Publicity Department chief Mohammad Ibrahim, asking them to explain why calling strikes against its verdict that cancelled the party’s registration with the Election Commission should not be treated as contempt of court.
The Vacation Bench of Justices Enayetur Rahim and ABM Altaf Hossain passed the suo-moto order on Monday after taking a recent newspaper report into cognisance.
The two Jamaat leaders have been ordered to appear before the court on Sep 16 to explain the reason behind the strike call and remarks against the High Court verdict contained in a party statement.
The court has also wanted to know why action should not be taken against them on charges of contempt of court.
After the court scrapped Jamaat’s registration on Aug 1, the party issued a statement, signed by the two leaders, calling a 48-hour strike beginning from Aug 12.
It alleged the verdict went against the basic rights for the people. “We will continue our movement against this unconstitutional and undemocratic ruling,” it said.
Jamaat leader Rafiqul Islam rejected the ‘wrong’ court verdict. “The verdict reflects the government’s political motives,” he said in the statement.
Rafiqul has already been sentenced to three months’ behind bars in a similar charge and had been on the run since.
During Monday’s hearing, Barrister Masud Reza Sobhan gave the report to the court. Deputy Attorney General M Moniruzzaman represented the state.
”There might be objections to a verdict. But the country cannot be shut down by calling strikes against a High Court Verdict,” Sobhan told bdnews24.com.
He said the scope to appeal to a higher court was there for someone “not happy” with a court order.
He also feared the strike would cause immense suffering to people returning to Dhaka during that time.
The two war crimes tribunals of Bangladesh, in several of their verdicts, accused Jamaat of committing war crimes during the nation’s struggle for freedom. The tribunals also identified it as a ‘criminal organisation’, but the party has been vehemently denying tribunal’s observation.
After this, the verdict surely has put the party under more pressure.
Several political parties and organisations including Shahbagh’s Ganajagaran Mancha have demanded Jamaat’s banning for collaborating with Pakistan Army during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.
Millions of Bangalees were killed and raped during the turmoil. Many believe the number deaths would have been fewer had the Pakistan Army not been guided by their collaborators.
State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam has said the verdict would provide a ‘solid foundation to the legal process’ to ban the party.
Source: Bd news24
