The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A special court holding the trial of barge-mounted power plant graft case yesterday observed a few defense counsels is vitiating court atmosphere and its image by taking advantage of the presence of Bangabandhu’s daughter and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The court's observation came following an 'unpalatable' behaviour by Adv Kazi Sajwar Hossain, the counsel for co-accused former energy and power secretary Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.

When the court of Judge M Firoz Alam resumed at 10:05 am, Adv Sajwar asked the judge why on Monday he had ordered him to come today with preparation for cross-examining the PW.

"You cannot utter like this," Sajwar asserted before cross-examining the Prosecution Witness (PW) and the complainant of the case.

Initially the judge ignored his question and asked him to move forward with the cross-examination. But Sajwar did not pay heed to the judge and engaged in exchange of words.

At this time the judge blasted Sajwar and said the court order is ruling and one should comply with it. "If any is aggrieved with my order, one can file a petition in the higher court seeking redress of it," the judge said.

The judge further told Sajwar that his conduct undoubtedly amounts to contempt of court.

Public Prosecutor Syed Shamim Ahsan Habib supported the judge's stance and said let a contempt of proceeding be drawn against Sajwar under Section 228 of as his behaviour is highly contemptuous.

The judge in his apparent fit of anger pounded his file on his table and said "don't you know the court can take a lawyer of such behaviour to custody and bring proceeding and punish him?"

He said there is no room for battle in the court, there is no room for expressing any emotion or showing eyebrows in the court as the court is not accountable to any person.

The judge said "You should restrain your behaviour by showing respect to the daughter of Bangabandhu and former Prime Minister who is in the dock."

The court proceedings were disrupted for 15 minutes due to the altercations between the judge and the defence lawyer.

Later on Adv Shahara Khatun, a counsel for Hasina, prayed for apology for Sajwar to forgive the matter. Finally, the court allowed Sajwar to continue his cross-examination.

During the cross-examination, PW Sabbir denied a defence suggestion that Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury was made co-accused in the case as he refused to be a prosecution witness against Hasina.

PW Sabbir admitted that Khulna barge-mounted power plant started production in 1998 and was supplying electricity to the national grid benefiting the people in the power-deficit region.

The cross-examination of Sabbir was concluded yesterday by the defence counsel.

The court will resume on Thursday when new PWs will be produced for their depositions and cross-examinations as well.