A High Court bench yesterday said a few politicians' comments about Lawrence Lifschultz's deposition to the HC amount to contempt of court.
The US based journalist and writer on March 14 gave the deposition to the court about the trial and execution of Col Abu Taher in 1976. In that deposition he said Gen Ziaur Rahman decided to execute Taher even before the trial.
A High Court bench yesterday said a few politicians' comments about Lawrence Lifschultz's deposition to the HC amount to contempt of court.
The US based journalist and writer on March 14 gave the deposition to the court about the trial and execution of Col Abu Taher in 1976. In that deposition he said Gen Ziaur Rahman decided to execute Taher even before the trial.
Answering to a question by the court, he also said Gen Ziaur Rahman was passively involved in Bangabandhu murder too.
The court's observation came following reported comments made by BNP leaders, including the party's Standing Committee Member MK Anwar, that the government hired a foreign journalist to malign the character of late president Ziaur Rahman also the founder of BNP.
The HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain made the observation during the hearing of a writ petition filed challenging the martial law regulation under which a military tribunal sentenced Taher to death.
Meanwhile, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday also told the same bench that the trial and execution of Col Taher was illegal and unconstitutional.
“It was clearly a murder,” he said while making his submission as an amicus curiae (a friend of the court).
“We are very much disturbed with a few politicians' comments that the government has hired a foreign journalist. Such comments can impede the course of justice,” Justice Manik said adding that the court wanted to put it on record that Lifschultz came to Bangladesh at the invitation of the bench.
“Such people are expected to act more responsibly, and must refrain from making reckless and irresponsible comments,” the justice said.
In view of the fact that no document in relation to the trial of Col Taher is available, Justice Manik said, “We are required to record information from those people who observed the trial. Lifschultz has undertaken extensive research on the matter and have written many features on this, and has spoken to many important persons including Major General Monzur.”
Noting that Lifschultz has a lot of information about Col Taher's trial since he covered the incident as a journalist, senior Judge Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik said his deposition will greatly assist the court in finding the truth.
This is the reason why the court invited all such people for their statements, the bench added.
DR KAMAL'S SUBMISSION
In his deposition, Dr Kamal said Col Taher was put in solitary confinement for around six months before the trial; he was not even allowed to appoint a lawyer to defend himself.
He added that the “so-called trial” was a shame for the nation, as it was held inside Dhaka Central Jail with heavy machine guns set around it.
Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, the then attorney general, refused to endorse the then government's decision to try Taher inside the jail, the jurist said, adding that Ishtiaq resigned from his post in protest at the decision.
Dr Kamal said it was a shame that the then chief justice Abu Sadat Md Sayem became the chief marshal law administrator, and it was his regime that tried Col Taher, a decorated freedom fighter.
The state machinery was used to try and execute him, Kamal added.
Following Dr Kamal's submission, Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam started placing his before the court as an amicus curiae.
He is expected to continue his submission at the next hearing on Sunday
News Source: The Daily Star