Contempt of court: Jubo League leader jailed for two months
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) sentenced a Jubo League leader to two months’ imprisonment for contempt of court, over a Facebook post containing derogatory remarks about the tribunal and its proceedings.
The three-member tribunal delivered the verdict on 12 April 2026 after hearing both sides.
The Contemnor, MH Patoari Babu (a leader of Juba League, Dhaka City North unit), appeared before the tribunal along with his wife and surrendered.
During the hearing, he admitted that his Facebook post was false and sought an unconditional apology, assuring the court that he would refrain from such actions in the future. The tribunal recorded his statement and, after considering submissions from all parties, acquitted his wife of the charges.
The allegation stemmed from a Facebook post in which MH Patoari Babu claimed that the chairman of ICT-1 and others had accepted around Tk 12,000 crore in exchange for delivering a verdict against Sheikh Hasina.
Prosecutor Shyikh Mahdi brought the matter to the tribunal’s attention through a written application, describing the claims as “utterly false, baseless and contemptuous”. Upon hearing, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against MH Patoari Babu on April 7, 2026, after taking cognisance of the contempt allegation.
The tribunal observed that such statements were “highly contemptuous” and could undermine the dignity of the judicial process, erode public confidence, and pose risks to the security of judges and others concerned.
Relevant news links on this issue are as follows:
The Daily Star – https://www.thedailystar.net/news/crime-justice/news/contempt-court-jubo-league-leader-jailed-two-months-4149881
Jagonews24 – https://www.jagonews24.com/law-courts/news/1109902
Daily Prothom Alo – https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/lq6ygd27x0
Daily Ajker Patrika – https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/national/ajpkl5ngk0kdq
Daily Jugantor – https://www.jugantor.com/tp-second-edition/1088559
Ekattor TV – https://ekattor.tv/national/89432
Daily Ittefaq – https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/784004
bdnews24 – https://bangla.bdnews24.com/politics/988907f42a3d