23 get more time to reply on punishment for contempt of court

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday gave six more days to 23 eminent persons to respond to the tribunal why they should not be punished for contempt of court for issuing a statement criticising the punishment of Dhaka-based British journalist David Bergman. 
The three-member tribunal asked them to place their replies before the tribunal by April 29. It also asked 15 of them who are living in the country to appear before it on the day.
Yesterday had been fixed for submitting replies but the court set the new date following separate time petitions filed by the 23. 

The persons are: Masud Khan, Afsan Chowdhury, Ziaur Rahman, Hana Shams Ahmed, Anu Muhammad, Anusheh Anadil, Muktasree Chakma Sathi, Lubna Marium, Farida Akhter, Shireen Huq, Zafrullah Chowdhury, Ali Ahmed Ziauddin, Rahnuma Ahmed, Shahdul Alam, CR Abrar, Bina D'Costa, Mahmud Rahman, Zarina Nahar Kabir, Leesa Gazi, Shabnam Nadiya, Nasrin Siraj Annie, Tibra Ali and Delwar Hussain.  
If convicted, they may face imprisonment up to one year or a fine of Tk 5,000 or both.
On December 2, 2014, the tribunal found Bergman, editor (special reports) of New Age, guilty of contempt of court for two of his blog posts of January 2013 on the verdict of Abul Kalam Azad, also known as Bachchu Razakar.  
He was sentenced to imprisonment "till rising of the court" that day and fined Tk 5,000.  
On December 20, 2014, the daily Prothom Alo ran a report titled "50 people express concern over Bergman's punishment", which stated that the order would restrict freedom of expression. 
One signatory, Khusi Kabir, later withdrew her name. The tribunal cleared 26 citizens of the charge as they apologised unconditionally.   

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