Contempt of Court

Do positive criticism Int'l tribunal asks New Age editor

1 December 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday asked the editor of New Age to make positive and constructive criticisms of its proceedings, ensuring that public sentiment is not hurt and the court's image is not blemished. The advice came when New Age Editor Nurul Kabir was placing his arguments during the hearing of a contempt of court rule issued for publishing an article written by foreign journalist David Bergman in the English daily. The tribunal issued the rule on October 3 asking the editor, publisher and the journalist of the newspaper to explain why contempt of court charges should not be brought against them for publishing the article headlined "A crucial period for International Crimes Tribunal" the previous day. Defending them, Nurul Kabir yesterday told the court that New Age published the article to assist the tribunal in holding trial of crimes against humanity committed during the country's Liberation War in 1971 in a fair and neutral manner. In response, the tribunal said, "Mr Nurul Kabir, David Bergman is a foreign journalist and he writes articles in his own style in your daily. Please, look at things from Bangalees' point of view while editing his articles and reports." ASM Shahidullah Khan, publisher of the daily; and David Bergman were also present before the tribunal's three-member panel led by its Chairman Justice Nizamul Huq. After concluding the day's proceedings, the court fixed December 20 for further hearing on the rule. Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan argued for Shahidullah Khan and David Bergman.