The Supreme Court Appellate Division today relieved seven pro-BNP lawyers of contempt of court charges against them for allegedly making “defamatory, derogatory and derogatory” comments against two then high court judges.

The high court dismissed the contempt petition on the grounds of “lack of duress,” meaning the petition was not filed properly.

Six of the lawyers are Md Kayser Kamal, Fahima Nasrin, Md Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal.

Another lawyer, Lawyer Abdul Jamil Mohammad Ali (known as AJ Mohammad Ali) died in May. So he was exempt from the charge.

The Appellate Division also imposed costs of one lakh on the petitioner, Advocate Md Nazmul Huda, for his absence before this court during the hearing of the petition.

Nazmul Huda was ordered to deposit the money to the July Smriti Foundation within three weeks.

The full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the order after holding a hearing on the petition.

On August 22 this year, the SC had exempted six lawyers from appearing before the court in connection with the contempt of court petition.

Following the contempt of court petition filed on November 15 last year, the Appellate Division issued a contempt of court notice and summons against seven pro-BNP lawyers.

That day, six of them appeared before the Appellate Division in accordance with its previous decision and requested exemption from personal appearance.

SC lawyer Nazmul Huda had filed the contempt petition in the apex court on August 29 last year, praying for a contempt of court case against the seven lawyers and punish them for their comments on the two then SC judges.

At today’s hearing, Senior Advocate Zainul Abedin was present on behalf of the six lawyers, while Solicitor General Md Asaduzzaman also represented the state.