Contempt rule against 2 dailies

The High Court has issued a contempt rule against vernacular dailies ‘Dainik Samakal’ and ‘Naya Diganta’.

The newspapers had run reports based on statements by several organisations demanding that Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud withdraw the comments he made during a court hearing last week.

The bench of Justices Naima Haider and Zafar Ahmed on Sunday issued the rule in the beginning of the hearing of contempt charges against Prothom Alo journalist Mizanur Rahman Khan.

It asked why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the editors, publishers and printers of both dailies - Samakal and Naya Diganta.

Dhaka Reporters Unity’s president and general secretary and Barisal Division Journalist Association’s president and general secretary have been ordered to appear before the court on Wednesday to explain their statements on demanding withdrawal of Barrister Mahmud’s statement.

The same bench recently had summoned Mizanur Rahman Khan of ‘Prothom Alo’ to hear a contempt ruling for two of his articles.

At Thursday’s hearing, Barrister Mahmud had made comments on the media and journalism.

On Saturday, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, Jagannath University Journalists’ Association and Barisal Division Journalists’ Association issued separate statements demanding withdrawal of Mahmud’s remarks.

Samakal and Naya Diganta ran reports using the statements in their Sunday’s editions.

Mahmud brought the articles to the court’s notice after which the bench issued the contempt rule.

The bench at the time said such statements cannot be published regarding any issue which is being heard by a court. “Verbal warning was issued on Thursday about not publishing any statements. But it was not followed. That’s why the contempt rule was issued today (Sunday).”

Barrister Mahmud said, “A lawyer’s remark in court is privilege. They are saying Rokanuddin Mahmud will have to apologise and withdraw the remarks. How is this possible? How can the remarks made in court be withdrawn?”