The petition filed today against 7 pro-BNP lawyers including former Attorney General AJ Muhammad Ali to explain the ultimatum for the resignation of two judges of the Appellate Division. On Wednesday (April 24), the Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan fixed the day to issue an order in this regard.
Earlier, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court fixed April 22 as the next day for hearing the contempt of court charges filed against 7 pro-BNP lawyers, including former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali, to explain the ultimatum for the resignation of two judges of the Appellate Division. The full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan passed the order on February 19 after hearing the application related to both parties.
In the court that day, former attorney general and former bar president senior lawyer AJ Muhammad Ali said on behalf of BNP, the complainants have also asked for time. We also want to fix the date of hearing after Eid. Later, the court fixed April 22 for the hearing. Following that, it came up for hearing on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Appellate Division fixed February 19 for the hearing of the contempt of court complaint made against 7 pro-BNP lawyers to explain this matter. He fixed this day in his continuation.
The full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan passed this order on February 12 in view of the time application on behalf of the applicant. Former Deputy Attorney General Advocate Shakila Roshan was present in the hearing on behalf of the application in the court that day.
In this regard, the General Secretary of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum Supreme Court Unit, Advocate Kamrul Islam Sajal, told Jago Newsek that day that the appeals department has adjourned the hearing till February 19 in view of the time application on behalf of Advocate Nahid Sultana Yuthi on the contempt of court petition against seven pro-BNP lawyers.
Earlier, the Appellate Division had adjourned the hearing of the contempt of court petition filed against seven pro-BNP lawyers till February 12. In the absence of the Chief Justice, the five-member Appellate Division headed by Senior Justice Borhan Uddin on January 29 adjourned the hearing till February 12. As a result, it came up for hearing that day.
The pro-BNP lawyers accused of contempt of court are Barrister Qaiser Kamal, Secretary General of Nationalist Lawyers Forum and Legal Secretary of BNP, former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali, President of Nationalist Lawyers Forum, former Attorney General of BNP, Advocate Fahima Nasreen Munni, member of BNP Executive Committee, President of Nationalist Lawyers Forum Supreme Court Branch, Advocate Abdul Jabbar. Bhuiyan, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal, former editor of the Supreme Court Bar, Advocate Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan, former co-editor of the Supreme Court Bar and General Secretary of the Supreme Court Branch of Nationalist Lawyers Forum, Advocate Gazi Md. Kamrul Islam Sajal.
On August 29 last year, appeals were filed against these lawyers for contempt of court based on the statement given in a press conference about the two judges of the Appellate Division. The application was made by the lawyer of the Supreme Court. Nazmul Huda.
The petition quoted a few lines from the speech given at the press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association building on August 27 last year. Photographs of pro-BNP lawyers marching with banners and leaflets about judges are also attached to the application.
The Appellate Division ordered hearing the application on November 15. The Appellate Division ordered seven pro-BNP lawyers to appear in the Appellate Division (Court No. 1) at 9 am on January 15 to explain their role in the contempt petition based on the statement given in the press conference.
Earlier, the Appellate Division asked seven pro-BNP lawyers to explain the contempt of court for holding press conferences and rallies demanding the resignation of two judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. A four-member Appellate Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice passed the order on November 15 last year. At the same time, the Appellate Division ordered to comply with the judgment regarding the procession and assembly in the court premises.
On August 30 last year, a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by retired Chief Justice Hasan Faiz Siddiqui heard the matter. The Supreme Court also sought an explanation in this regard.
The Nationalist Lawyers Forum held several press conferences against the two judges of the Appellate Division for speaking at the Mourning Day discussion meeting on August 15 of the same year, referring to the sworn politicians as per the Constitution. Besides, a program was announced to prevent those two judges from judging. The pro-BNP lawyers held a rally in the Supreme Court.
The press conference was held on August 27 at the Supreme Court Bar Association building. On August 29, the Supreme Court lawyer quoted a few lines of the speech. Nazmul Huda made the application. In it, pictures of pro-BNP lawyers’ marches and positions along with banners and leaflets with judges were added.
Two days later on August 29, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash’s wife and lawyer Advocate Nahid Sultana Yuthi filed a contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court. On this day, lawyer Nahid Sultana Juthi presented the matter of this application in the Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice then said that since there is a need to reconstitute the bench, the petition will not be heard on August 29. He asked to submit the application to his secretary. Advocate Nahid Sultana Juthi filed this application on behalf of lawyer Nazmul Huda.
It is said in the petition that the pro-BNP lawyers have been accused of contempt of court for holding a press conference and rally against the judge. Barrister Kaiser Kamal, legal affairs secretary of BNP and seven people were charged against them.
The petition came up for hearing in the Appellate Division on August 30 last year. On that day, the Appellate Division directed everyone to strictly comply with the High Court’s May 23, 2005 order not to hold assembly, procession, rally, human chain and strike in the court premises.
At the same time, the Appellate Division fixed October 19 for hearing the contempt petition. On that day, the Appellate Division adjourned the hearing till November 15. After hearing on November 15, the Appellate Division issued an order with instructions to strictly follow the order of the High Court (no assembly, procession, rally, human chain and strike in the court premises). That day Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan said, ‘Everyone will strictly follow the order of the High Court.’
FH/MIHS
