The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 yesterday asked 49 ’eminent citizens’ those expressed concern through a statement published on daily Prothom Alo after British journalist and blogger David Bergman’s punishment by the tribunal to explain their statement and conduct.
All the people that gave out the statement will have to give their explanation by January 27, by appearing before the court or through their councils, Mustafizur Rahman, Registrar of the ICT, told reporters at a press briefing yesterday afternoon.
“As 11 of those 49 are currently living abroad, the tribunal has asked to send copy of today’s order to them through Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Similarly the concerned foreign missions will collect their explanation and send those to tribunal within the due date,” ICT Registrar said.
Bergman, a special reports editor at daily New Age, got the punishment for committing contempt of court on December 2 for his irrelevant criticism of the trial process on his personal blog and demeaning the court.
After that, Prothom Alo carried out an article titled ‘Concern of 50 eminent citizens over Bergman punishment’ on December 20. Later rights activists Khushi Kabir, whose name was also there, withdrew her statement.
