The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday directed lawyer Muhammad Ashraful Islam to provide an undertaking that he would refrain from making any Facebook posts concerning sub judice matters that could demean the judiciary or its judges.
The six-member bench, chaired by chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, also set Monday for passing further order.
Ashraful requested lifting of a court order that had suspended his legal practice pending a contempt of court case against him over a Facebook post on alleged corruption and irregularities of a judge.
Attorney general Md Asaduzzaman supported lifting the ban on Ashraful鈥檚 legal practice on condition of providing the undertaking.
He argued that any allegations of corruption against a Supreme Court justice should be formally submitted to the president or the chief justice without making any Facebook post.
On June 9, the Appellate Division suspended Ashraful鈥檚 legal practice across all courts in Bangladesh after he uploaded a live video on Facebook on April 29, in which he criticised a High Court judge and several senior lawyers.
The Appellate Division summoned Ashraful to appear before its full bench on August 29 to explain why he should not be held responsible for contempt of court for defaming the judiciary and its judges through his Facebook post.
The apex court鈥檚 order followed a petition filed by seven lawyers鈥擬d Jakaria Habib, Md Murad Hossain, Md Saddam Hossain, Golam Kibria Sourav, Jannatul Islam Peya, Naim Sarder, and Md Sultan鈥攕eeking a contempt ruling against Ashraful.
Lawyer Syed Mamun Mahbub represented Ashraful, while lawyers Zainul Abedin, Ahsanul Karim, and Mustafizur Rahman Khan appeared on behalf of the seven petitioning lawyers.