Channel 24 faces contempt charges

The prosecution has moved the International Crimes Tribunal to draw contempt proceedings against private TV Channel 24 and its talk-show participants for commenting on Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's case.

Prosecutors Zead-Al-Malum and Tureen Afroz along with several others submitted an application to this effect to the tribunal registrar on Tuesday.

The station’s CEO, Managing Director, Executive Director, Head of Programmes along with the anchor of the talk-show Mahmudur Rahman Manna and participants, Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury and Center for Sustainable Development's Secretary General Mahfuz Ullah have been charged in the plea.

The appeal sought orders from the court regarding measures against the accused under Clause 11-4 of the Tribunal Act.

It said the two participants of the talk-show titled 'Muktobak' claimed that SQ Chowdhury's rights had been violated, which raises questions about the Tribunal's trial process.

The comments were 'biased, groundless, complete lies, bogus and ill-intentioned and made in a bid to misinform about the Tribunal', according to the prosecutors' plea.