Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today exempted seven pro-BNP lawyers from contempt of court charges that were brought against them for holding a press conference against two then-judges of the apex court and organizing a procession on the court premises. “Dismissed as being not press,” declared the order from the four-member apex court bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. The decision came after the complainant and his lawyer failed to appear before the court during multiple scheduled hearings.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the seven lawyers exempted from the contempt charges are former attorney general AJ Mohammad Ali, Md Kayser Kamal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Fahima Nasrin Munni, Md Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, and Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan. Notably, AJ Mohammad Ali had been exempted from the charges earlier following his death in May.
Additionally, the apex court imposed a cost of Taka one lakh on petitioner Advocate Md Nazmul Huda, instru
cting him to deposit the amount to the “July Shaheed Smrity Foundation” within three weeks. This ruling follows an earlier court decision on June 12, which had already exempted the accused lawyers from making personal appearances in the case.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Nazmul Huda initially filed the charges on August 29, 2023, accusing the seven lawyers of conducting a press conference against two then-judges of the apex court, organizing a procession on the court premises, and making slanderous, derogatory, and contemptuous comments about the judges.