The Chinese People's Liberation Army will dispatch a contingent to Bangladesh in early May to participate in the joint training, Xinhua reports
War crimes tribunal calls Zafrullah ‘wrong-headed’, issues stern warning for remarks on judges
The International Crimes Tribunal has issued a stern warning to Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury for his remarks on its judges and described him as ‘wrong-headed’.
Published : 1 Sept 2015, 06:32 AM
Updated : 1 Sept 2015, 06:32 AM
The ICT-2 led by Justice Obaidul Hassan issued the warning on Tuesday while delivering its decision over contempt charges brought against him.
On Jun 10, the war crimes tribunal found Chowdhury guilty of contempt for his remarks about the punishment given to British national and journalist David Bergman.
Later in the day, he met the press and said: “The contempt of court verdict has proved the mental illness of the three judges.”
The Appellate Division quashed his conviction on contempt charges over remarks about Bergman’s punishment but cautioned him after he offered unconditional apology.
The contempt charges over remarks on judges were brought by freedom fighters Monoranjan Ghoshal, Ali Asgar, Nazrul Islam and Kamal Pasha Chowdhury and one FM Shahin, in a plea filed with the International Crimes Tribunal.
After the ICT verdict on Jun 10, Zafrullah refused to stand on the dock before getting a copy of the verdict. Later he did so after getting a copy of the verdict.
Speaking to media after emerging from the courtroom, he had said then the verdict was a proof that the judges were ‘mentally unstable’.
“There cannot be justice where judges cannot tolerate criticism.”
On Jul 12, the tribunal heard the contempt charges over the comments and ordered Chowdhury to appear before the court to explain his stand.
On Aug 9, Chowdhury rendered an ‘unconditional apology for his remarks.
On Tuesday, the tribunal said that it accepted the apology and slated Zafrullah’s comments ‘made by a wrong-headed person’.
The court strictly cautioned Chowdhury and said “not to practice to make such comments in the name of freedom of speech”.
During the whole time in the court on Tuesday, the Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder stood silently on the dock.
He did not even speak to the media waiting outside the court after the verdict.
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