DHAKA: International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) has issued show-cause notice to five leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir along with their lawyer Advocate Tajul Islam in accusation of contempt of court.

A three-member ICT team, headed by its chairman M Enayetur Rahim, issued the notice on Monday.

The accused Jamaat leaders include its acting amir Makbul Ahmed, acting nayeb-e-amir Mahibur Rahman and acting secretary general Dr Shafiqur Rahman while the Shibir leaders include its president Abdul Jabbar and general secretary Mohammad Atikur Rahman.

The ICT has asked them to explain by January 28 why contempt of court proceedings should not be moved against them for their statements given to the media on the verdict of death penalty of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam.

On December 30, ATM Azhar was sentenced to death on three charges of genocide, mass killing and crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

The ICT accused them of contempt of court as they called hartal for December 31 and January 1 protesting the verdict of the tribunal and commented on its judgment negatively to the media.

BDST: 1309 HRS, JAN 12, 2015