Convicts for contempt at war tribunal can go to SC

The Supreme Court yesterday observed that a person could move a petition before this court challenging an International Crimes Tribunal verdict convicting him or her of contempt of court.

The apex court said it had inherent powers to entertain such petitions.

The SC gave the observation while hearing a government appeal against a High Court order, said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and petitioners' lawyer Rashna Imam.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah said it would modify the HC order.

Following a writ petition, the HC in April said a  contemnor before the ICT could approach the Appellate Division, seeking "complete justice" in any case under Article 104 of the constitution.

Twelve eminent personalities, who face contempt charges, filed the writ petition on April 22 with the HC, praying for staying the contempt proceedings against them.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 had issued a contempt of court notice against the petitioners and 37 others for issuing a statement criticising the conviction of Dhaka-based British journalist David Bergman.

On December 2 last year, the tribunal found Bergman, editor (special reports) of the New Age, guilty of contempt for two of his blog posts on the verdict of convicted war criminal Abul Kalam Azad, also known as Bachchu Razakar.