The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) today ordered BNP chairperson's adviser and Supreme Court lawyer Fazlur Rahman to appear before it in person on December 8 to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for making disparaging remarks about it.
A two-member ICT-1 bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order.
During the hearing, prosecutors Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim and Mizanul Islam presented Fazlur's identity when the tribunal sought clarification.
The bench questioned whether Fazlur was indeed an advocate, whether he possessed valid enrolment documents, and whether he had ever practised before any court.
Prosecutor Tamim told the tribunal that Fazlur claimed 44 years of experience in legal practice, but records showed he began practising in 1992. "By that count, it has been 33 years," he said.
The tribunal observed that criticism of laws, verdicts, or even judges is permissible, but outright refusal to accept a verdict constitutes not only contempt of court but also sedition.
The tribunal directed Fazlur to explain his remarks and asked him to bring his institutional and bar certificates to the next hearing.
The prosecution had brought the contempt allegation against the BNP leader on November 26.
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