The High Court on Wednesday set July 11 for pronouncing its verdict on contempt of the court proceedings brought against Gana Odhikar Parishad faction president Md Nurul Haque Nur for making ‘defamatory remarks’ about the judiciary and judges.
The bench of Justice JMB Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil set the schedule.
Nurul, also a former vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, earlier told the court that he made the remarks in question as several opposition leaders and activists were deprived of getting justice from courts and they had been sent to jail on a wholesale basis.
Nurul made the remarks in question during the blockade called by opposition political parties at the time of addressing a gathering of leaders and activists of the Gana Odhikar Parishad, in front of the Water pump at Bijoynagar in the capital on December 7, 2023, blockade.
As Nurul told the court that he made unexpected remarks out of his ignorance, the court then rebuked him stating why he did not issue a rejoinder to the media seeking apology for the derogatory remarks.
Nurul apologised to the court stating that he would remain cautious while making remarks in public spaces and would never deliver any remark amounting to contempt of court.
Deputy attorney general Kazi Mynul Hassan argued that Nur should be punished for committing contempt of the court as a reference.        Â
Nurul’s lawyer Zainul Abedin tendered an unconditional apology, stating that his client’s voice might be harsh during the speech.
On December 17, 2023, the HC summoned Nurul to explain personally why he should not be punished for committing the contempt of the court.
The bench also issued a ruling suo motu taking into cognisance of Nurul’s remarks published by daily Jugantor on December 8, 2023.
