The Appellate Division has summoned seven pro-BNP lawyers, including former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali and BNP legal affairs secretary barrister Kayser Kamal, for making derogatory comments about two apex-court judges.
The other lawyers are Fahima Nasrin Munni, Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal.
The lawyers have been asked to appear before the court on 15 January 2024 to explain their position.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, passed the order after hearing a contempt-of-court petition on Wednesday.
Md Nazmul Huda, a pro-Awami League lawyer, on August 29 filed the petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, bringing accusations against the seven.
The pro-BNP lawyers at a press conference demanded that the two SC judges in question be kept away from discharging judicial functions or their resignations be demanded, reads the petition.
The apex court also asked the lawyers to strictly follow the 2005 High Court directives that prohibited them from holding assemblies and bringing out processions on the court premises.
Lawyer Nahid Sultana Juthi appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the petitioner while lawyers Zainul Abedin, Mohsin Rashid and Syed Mamun Mahbub represented the seven pro-BNP lawyers.
Later, Ms Juthi said, "The accused lawyers have been asked to appear before the court on January 15 next. At the same time, they have been asked to place their explanation over the allegation."
Meanwhile, about 200 lawyers prayed to the Supreme Court to be included as a party in the contempt of court case filed against the seven lawyers.
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