DHAKA, Nov 3, 2024 (BSS) - The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today exempted seven pro-BNP lawyers from contempt of court charges brought against them for holding press conference against two the then judges of the apex court and bringing out procession on the court premises.

"Dismissed as being not press," said the order passed by the four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. The court came up with the order as the complainant and his lawyer refrained from appearing before the court during last several hearing dates.

The seven lawyers, who were relieved from the contempt of court charges are- former attorney general AJ Mohammad Ali, Md Kayser Kamal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Fahima Nasrin Munni, Md Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal and Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan. Of the seven, AJ Mohammad Ali was exempted from the charges earlier as he died in May.

The apex court also imposed Taka one lakh cost on petitioner Advocate Md Nazmul Huda and ordered him to deposit the money to "July Shaheed Smrity Foundation" in three weeks.

Earlier on June 12, the apex court had exempted the accused lawyers from personal appearance in the case.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Nazmul Huda on August 29, 2023, brought the charges against the seven lawyers for holding press conference against two the then judges of the apex court, bringing out procession on the court premises and making slanderous, derogatory and contemptuous comments about the judges.