Bangladesh: The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has filed a contempt of court allegation against BNP leader Fazlur Rahman.
The complaint was lodged at International Crimes Tribunal-1 by Prosecutor Gazi Monawwar Hossain Tamim today (Wednesday). The Tribunal has scheduled a hearing on the matter for this coming Sunday.
Details of the Allegation
Prosecutor Gazi Monawwar stated in the complaint that Fazlur Rahman, during a television talk show on a private channel, made statements rejecting the legitimacy of the Tribunal.
Key Controversial Statement 1: The Prosecutor cited Rahman's comment that he does not recognize this Tribunal. Rahman argued that the Tribunal was established solely to prosecute war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 War of Liberation and therefore cannot hear any other types of cases.
In response, Prosecutor Gazi Monawwar clarified that the Tribunal is empowered to try crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, and crimes against peace, and is currently conducting trials for crimes against humanity.
He suggested Rahman was narrowly focused only on war crimes.
Key Controversial Statement 2: The Prosecutor also highlighted another section of the talk show where Fazlur Rahman said, "The process of forming this Court suggests that trials cannot be held here. I believe there is an internal issue among those who are conducting the trials in this Court."
Prosecution's Argument
The Prosecutor emphasized that Fazlur Rahman, being a senior Supreme Court lawyer and a BNP parliamentary candidate, is aware of the gravity of such remarks. Despite this, Rahman is continually making comments that undermine the Tribunal's formation process and its proceedings, which the prosecution argues demonstrates a willful act of contempt of court.
The allegation was presented before Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, Member of International Crimes Tribunal-1. The Tribunal's Chairman, Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, and another Member, Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud, were absent.
Tribunal's Response
After hearing the prosecution, Justice Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury stated that this is a very serious allegation.
He ordered that the matter be heard again next Sunday in the presence of the Tribunal's Chairman.
Fazlur Rahman is the BNP nominee for the upcoming national parliamentary election in the Kishoreganj-4 constituency (Itna-Mithamain-Oshtogram).
