Lawyers form human chain in support of two Supreme Court advocates facing contempt proceedings over remarks on ICT verdict sentencing seven AL leaders to death
Lawyers aligned with the Awami League gathered at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and Supreme Court premises on Wednesday as two Supreme Court lawyers facing contempt proceedings appeared before the tribunal over remarks allegedly made about its recent verdict sentencing seven senior Awami League leaders and activists, including party General Secretary Obaidul Quader, to death for crimes against humanity during the July Uprising.
The gathering was among the first visible displays of support by lawyers aligned with the Awami League at the court premises since the party was ousted from power following the July 2024 uprising.
The lawyers facing the proceedings, M Hasanuzzaman Tushar and Barrister Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury, appeared before ICT-2 in response to the tribunal’s September 16 summons.
The prosecution alleged that the two lawyers had described the September 15 verdict as “illegal”, a “dictated verdict” and a “kangaroo court verdict”.
The tribunal, headed by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, adjourned the proceedings until October 26 after Justice Md Manjurul Basit was unable to attend the hearing due to illness.
Senior lawyer Md Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury appeared for the two lawyers. The prosecution did not oppose the adjournment.
Meanwhile, a number of lawyers aligned with the Awami League gathered inside and around the tribunal premises.
Following the hearing, the lawyers left the tribunal and formed a human chain near the tribunal gate and the Supreme Court Bar Association premises. They also took photographs and selfies, turning the gathering into a visible show of solidarity with the two lawyers facing contempt proceedings.
The development came days after ICT-2, on September 15, sentenced Obaidul Quader and six other senior Awami League and affiliated-organisation leaders to death in absentia in the July Uprising crimes against humanity case.
The other six are former state minister Mohammad Ali Arafat, Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Juba League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, its General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, former Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain, and its General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan.
All seven accused remained at large and were tried in absentia.
The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of 50 percent of the movable and immovable properties of Quader, Nasim, Arafat, Parash and Nikhil, with the proceeds to be used to compensate victims or their families through the July Foundation or another statutory organisation.
The contempt proceedings originated from Facebook posts allegedly made by Tushar and Hasan Chowdhury following the verdict.
On September 16, prosecutor Tamim told the tribunal that the lawyers’ comments questioned the authority and legitimacy of the tribunal and its judgment. He said that although the verdict had drawn criticism from different quarters, the prosecution had specifically brought the two lawyers’ Facebook posts before the tribunal because they were practising Supreme Court lawyers.
The tribunal did not make a finding of contempt at that stage. Instead, it summoned the lawyers to hear their explanations before determining whether their remarks constituted contempt of court.
Wednesday’s gathering highlighted the continuing political and legal contestation surrounding the tribunal’s cases related to the July Uprising.
The Awami League has remained outside the formal political arena following its removal from power, while cases against its senior leaders before the tribunal have emerged as a major legal and political issue.
The September 15 verdict against Quader and the six others followed an eight-month trial. The prosecution alleged that the accused had acted in concert to direct, incite or facilitate violence against protesters during the July Uprising.
The contempt proceedings against the two lawyers have now added another dimension to the ongoing confrontation surrounding the tribunal and lawyers aligned with the former ruling party.
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