DHAKA: International Crimes Tribunal-2 has brought contempt of court charges against 23 eminent personalities for issuing statement against British journalist David Bergman’s punishment.

The tribunal also issued a rule asking the eminent personalities to explain by April 23 why punitive actions would not be taken against them.

The three-member ICT-2, headed by Chairman Justice Obaidul Hasan, brought the charge and issued the rule on Wednesday.

The 23 dignitaries who have faced contempt charges are Masud Khan, Afsan Chowdhury, Hana Shams Ahmed, Anu Mohammad, Anusheh Anadil, Lubna Mariam, Muktasree Chakma, AA Ziaur Rahman, Tahmima Anam, Samia Haque, Mukta Chowdhury, Dr Jafrullah Chowdhury, Shirin Huq, Dr C R Abrer, Farida Akhter, Dr Bina D Costa, Rehnuma Ahmed, Dr Shaheedul Alam, Lisa Gazi, Dr. Jarina Nahar Kabirm Teera Ali, Shabnam Nadia, Mahmud Rahman and Nasreen Siraj Anny.

The tribunal also exonerated Rezaur Rahman from the charge as he sought unconditional apology through his lawyer.

Earlier, the ICT -2 exonerated  a total of 25 eminent personalities from contempt of court charges in three phases accepting their apologies for a statement that was issued expressing concern over the punishment of David Bergman, a British human rights activist and journalist based in Dhaka.

The 10 dignitaries, who were exonerated on March 3, are Dr Ali Riaz, Dr Parween Hasan, Dr Firdous Azim, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Dr Faustina Pereira, Dr Deena M Siddiqi, Md Nur Khan Liton, Dr Samia Huq, Seuty Sabur and Tasnim Sarah Shahabuddin.

15 eminent persons, who exonerated from contempt charges on February 23 are : Shahdin Malik, M Hafizuddin, Tahmima Anam, Badiul Alam Majumder, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Imtiaz Ahmed, Amena Mohsin, Naila Khan, Shahnaj Huda, Syeda Rezwana Hasan, Asif Nazrul, Zakir Hossain, Arup Rahee, Saina Akhter and Ilira Dewan.

The court on December 2 sentenced Bergman, editor (special reports) of the Daily New Age, to imprisonment until the court session ended and fined him Tk 5,000 for two articles he posted on his personal blog, which demeaned the court.

After that, Prothom Alo carried out a report under the heading 'Concern of 50 eminent citizens over Bergman punishment' on December 20, 2014.

On January 14, the tribunal asked the 49 personalities to explain by January 27 regarding their statement.

In compliance with the court order, 25 dignitaries had apologized in three phases while one of the signatories in the statement, Khushi Kabir, later withdrew her name.

BDST: 1421 HRS, APR 01, 2015