SC issues contempt rule against Janakantha editor, executive editor for article questioning conduct of judges in SQ Chy appeals case

The Supreme Court has issued a rule against journalist Swadesh Roy for his article that questioned the conduct of judges hearing war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s appeal.

Roy, executive editor of the Daily Janakantha, and editor Mohammad Atikullah Khan have been ordered to appear before the apex court on Aug 3.

The court has also asked Attorney General Mahbubey Alam to gather detailed information on Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar for making remarks on sub-judice matters, he told bdnews24.com.

The top court headed by Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha upheld the death verdict for Chittagong’s war-time terror Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on Wednesday morning.

Roy's article was published on Jul 16 about Chowdhury's family lobbying for upturning the death verdict.

He wrote, “Salauddin Quader Chowhudry is a heinous killer from 1971. He is among those traitors who bathed most in the blood of innocent Bengalis. His appeal verdict is on Jul 29. Father Mujib! Here too, your daughter is being made to stand with her back to a crucifix.

“If that is not true, then how did Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s family have a meeting with those who were judging his case? How did they manage to get to the judges? Was it ISI or ULFA? Do judges ever meet the families of the victims? Is it within their ethics?

“Why is Sheikh Hasina’s government busy trying to stop some judges from going on foreign visits now?”

“The article intends to create a controversy about the judiciary. The court believes the derogatory comments have damaged its image,” said the attorney general.

“The Appellate Division also wants particulars on Imran H Sarkar.  I will collect his details and submit them to court.”

The Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson had announced continuous demonstrations at Shahbagh, ahead of the verdict day, to make sure ‘no conspiracy’ reduces or overturns it.