DHAKA: Mahmudur Rahman, the acting editor of the recently closed daily Amar Desh, Thursday denied before the Supreme Court the contempt-of-court charge brought against him for publishing news insinuating into the apex court’s stay jurisdiction.

“And I will not beg any pardon,” said a maverick Mahmud, putting up a bold face during hearing on the contempt petition after he was produced before the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division in the morning.

At that time, four other accused facing the charge, however, said they would seek apology from the apex court in writing, if necessary.

Mahmudur Rahman, who was arrested at the time of closure of the daily, was escorted out of jail into the court at 9:05 am. The four others of the closed newspaper--publisher Hashmat Ali, Deputy Editor Syed Abdal Ahmed, News Editor Mustahid Ahmed and Staff Reporter Aliullah Noman—appeared at the same time.

The six-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim, set August 12 as the next date of hearing and directed the accused to appear before the court that day.   

Later, Mahmudur Rahman was taken back to Dhaka central jail by prison van at 10:08 am.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Barrister Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Barrister Rafiq-Ul Haque, Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Barrister Abdur Razzak stood for Rahman in the hearing while Attorney-General Mahbube Alam and Deputy Attorney-General MK Rahman fought for the state.

Supreme Court lawyer Reaz Uddin Khan and Mynul Hassan filed the petition following a report published in the Amar Desh on April 21 with the headline ‘Chamber bench means a stay order on behalf of government’.

Earlier on June 2, police arrested Mahmudur Rahman from his office at Karwan Bazar following a case filed by publisher of the daily Hashmat Ali. The declaration of the daily was cancelled and its press sealed early night on June 1 following the row over the daily`s publishing authority.

BDST: 12:20 HRS, JULY 8, 2010.