Two Lawyers Offer Unconditional Apology to Tribunal Over Facebook Comments on Verdict; Next Hearing on 25 January
Two pro-Awami League lawyers have offered an unconditional apology before the International Crimes Tribunal over allegations that they made contemptuous comments on Facebook about the death sentences handed down to seven accused, including Obaidul Quader, in a crimes against humanity case from the July uprising.
The two are Supreme Court lawyers Hasanuzzaman Tushar and Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury. Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the banned Awami League, is one of the accused in that case.
On Monday (26 October) they appeared before International Crimes Tribunal-2, explained their remarks, and told the court that they had deleted the earlier Facebook posts.
Lawyer Munsurul Haque Chowdhury appeared for the two lawyers, while Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam represented the prosecution.
The chief prosecutor said the two lawyers had admitted their mistake and expressed regret. The next hearing in the matter has been set for 25 January.
Following an application by the prosecution, International Crimes Tribunal-2 had on 16 September ordered the two lawyers to appear in person and explain the contempt allegation.
They appeared before the tribunal on 23 September in compliance with that order, and the hearing was then fixed for 26 October.
Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim said the prosecution had filed the contempt application over the allegedly contemptuous comments about the tribunal's verdict, and the two lawyers were summoned on the basis of that application.
Earlier, on 15 September, International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced seven accused, including Obaidul Quader, to death in the crimes against humanity case arising from the July uprising.
The other death-row accused are Awami League joint general secretary A F M Bahauddin Nasim, then state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, its general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain and its general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. All seven accused are fugitives.
