Staff Reporter :The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a contempt rule against the Bengali Daily Janakantha` for publishing an article questioning the judges’ role about convicted BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s trial. The apex court summoned editor of the daily Mohammad Atikullah Khan Masud and the article writer Shawdesh Roy, who is also executive editor of the daily, to appear before the court by 9:00 am on August 3, and explain why punitive action would not be taken against them for tarnishing the court’s image. The four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice SK Sinha, issued the Suo Moto (on its own) rule after delivering the verdict of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. The three other members of the bench are Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Hasan Foez Siddique. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told media that the court issued the rule, as Janakantha published the article on its July 16 edition, tarnishing the image of the court and questioning magistracy of the judiciary.The court also asked the Attorney General to gather detailed information on Ganajagaran Mancha’s spokesperson Imran H Sarkar for making remarks on sub-judice matters. The Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson had announced continuous demonstrations at Shahbagh, ahead of the verdict day, to make sure ‘no conspiracy’ reduces or overturns it. Mahbubey Alam said that Imran H Sarkar’s comments about the court led the top court to inquire about his particulars.On July 16, the Daily Janakantha published an article titled ‘Activity of SQ Chy’s family: Less chances to escape’. In the article, the writer stated that the family members of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury met one of the judges dealing with the trial.Swadesh Roy in his article wrote, “If that is not true, then how did Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s family have a meeting with those who were judging his case? How did they manage to get to the judges? Was it ISI or ULFA? Do judges ever meet the families of the victims? Is it within their ethics?He also wrote that why is Sheikh Hasina’s government busy trying to stop some judges from going on foreign visits now? “Salauddin Quader Chowhudry is a heinous killer from 1971. He is among those traitors who bathed most in the blood of innocent Bengalis. His appeal verdict is on July 29. Father Mujib! Here too, your daughter is being made to stand with her back to a crucifix.” “The article intends to create a controversy about the judiciary. The court believes the derogatory comments have damaged its image,” said the Attorney General.
