ICT recalls arrest warrant against Zafrullah

A tribunal in Dhaka today recalled the arrest warrant against Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury for non-payment of a fine it had imposed on him for contempt of court.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2, which is dealing with cases filed in connection with crimes relating to 1971 War of Liberation, passed its order after Zafrullah submitted before it the copy of the Supreme Court order staying the tribunal’s verdict against him till July 5, Acting Deputy Registrar of the tribunal Md Aftafuzzaman told The Daily Star.

On June 10, the tribunal found Chowdhury guilty of contempt and imprisoned him at court for an hour for criticising punishment of Bangladesh-based British journalist David Bergman.

The court also ordered him to pay Tk 5,000 fine within seven days, in default of which he will have to serve a month in prison.

A freedom fighter, Zafrullah Chowdhury, along with Dr MA Mobin, visited the frontlines of the war during Bangladesh’s War of Independence, and began treating wounded freedom fighters. With the help of Bangladesh’s government in exile, they established Bangladesh Field Hospital on the eastern border near the Tripura and Comilla districts. In 1972, the field hospital was renamed Gonoshasthaya Kendra or People’s Health Centre).

On December 2 last year, the tribunal found Bergman, editor (special reports) of English daily the New Age, guilty of contempt for writing two blog posts in January 2013 on the verdict in the case against Abul Kalam Azad. The journalist was sentenced to imprisonment till rising of the court that day and fined Tk 5,000.

The daily Prothom Alo on December 20 last year ran a report under the headline “50 people express concern over Bergman's punishment”. The signatories of a statement said the order would curb freedom of expression, according to the report. One of the signatories Khushi Kabir later parted from the statement.

When the tribunal asked 49 people to explain their statement, 26 signatories apologised unconditionally. The court exonerated them from the charge, but initiated contempt proceedings against 23 as it was not convinced with their replies.

On June 10, the tribunal pardoned 22 signatories as they regretted their action and “were not well aware of the consequences of the action.” But the court punished Zafrullah as he committed the same offence twice.

On June 18, the ICT-2 issued an arrest warrant for Zafrullah Chowdhury for non-payment of a fine, which it had imposed on him for contempt of court, within the deadline.

Neither Zafrullah nor his lawyers had informed the ICT about the Supreme Court stay order before today, according to court officials.

After submitting the SC order, Zafrullah today said he also urged the tribunal to withdraw its arrest warrant against him, which it had issued “mistakenly”.

Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 had found his comment on the war crimes trail contemptuous, but pardoned him with a serious caution.

Under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, a contempt convict cannot challenge the order of a tribunal. But the High Court recently observed that a convict can do so.