Dhaka, Oct 3 (UNB) -The International Crimes Tribunal on Monday issued a suo moto rule upon daily New Age editor Nurul Kabir, its publisher ASM Shahidullah Khan and writer David Bergman asking them to explain why proceedings should not be drawn against them for publishing a ‘contemptuous’ article over the tribunal.

After reading out the October 2 issue article titled ‘Crucial period for International Crimes Tribunal’ written by David Bergman, editor (special reports), the tribunal termed ‘highly contemptuous’ the article as a whole.

“It amounts to undermining the image of the tribunal,” it remarked.

Issuing the rule under section 11(4) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, the three-member tribunal headed by Justice M Nizamul Huq asked the contemners to explain their stance on the article by October 23.

The relevant section empowers the tribunal to punish any person, who obstructs or abuses its process or disobeys any of its orders or directions or does anything which tends to prejudice the case of a party before it, or tends to bring it or any of its members into hatred or contempt or does anything which continues contempt of the tribunal.

Anyone violates the relevant law, gets simple imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to Tk 5000 or with both.