Dhaka: The High Court granted its approval for the eminent persons, who are charged for contempt of court, to appeal against the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Mohammad Izarul Haque Akand on Wednesday gave the approval after a hearing on the writ issued against the eminent personalities.

The review of the hearing mentioned if the accused are charged for contempt of court they can submit appeal to the Supreme Court under paragraph 104 of the constitution.

Earlier, the tribunal issued a contempt of court rule against 23 eminent persons for issuing statement over the punishment of journalist David Bergman.

12 among 23 eminent citizens submitted a writ before the High Court challenging section 11 (4) and 21 of the tribunal’s act. The writ petition says there is no such decree that the citizens who are charged for contempt of court can appeal against it, which is conflicting with the legal rights of a citizen. 

The 12 eminent citizens who submitted the writ are Shirin Parvin Akhter, Afsan Chowdhury, Ali Ahmed Ziauddin, Shahidul Alam, Anusheh Anadil, Rafique Abrar, Farida Akhter, Lubna Mariam, Ziaur Rahman, Masud Khan, Rehnuma Ahmed, and Jafrullah Chowdhury. Barrister Akhtar Inam and Barrister Rasna Inam conducted the writ hearing on behalf og them.

Rasna Inam said the court decided the writ after issued some views over the writ petition.

However, the tribunal fixed 6 May for the hearing on the writ petition submitted by the eminent citizens.