The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the editor, the publisher and a reporter of the leading vernacular daily Prothom Alo to explain why proceedings should not be drawn against them for contempt of court through publishing a report in its November 9 issue.

A division bench comprising Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui issued the rule, returnable in two weeks.

The court asked contemner-respondents Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman, publisher Mahfuz Anam and reporter Mizanur Rahman Khan to appear in person before the court on November 18.

The High Court orders came following a contempt petition moved by Munshi Ahsan Kabir, a Supreme Court lawyer.

On November 9, Prothom Alo ran a report headlined 'Order on 298 cases in 315 minutes', pointing finger at a High Court division bench of Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader.

Moving the petition, Kabir told the court that he felt the necessity of taking "effective steps to protect and uphold the dignity and honour of the highest judiciary".

He submitted that the news item has "shaken public confidence in the judiciary and brought the administration of justice into disrepute. As such, the report amounts to contempt of court".

Kabir further contended that the contemner-respondents had shown "disregard and disrespect to the rule of law and administration of justice by publishing such contemptuous report".