The High Court yesterday exempted 13 journalists of the weekly Shirsho Kagoj from personal appearance in the court, who face contempt of court charges.
An HC bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Abu Tariq also appointed five legal experts as amicus curiae (friend of the court) for legal interpretations in this case.
The amici curiae are Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Barrister Ajmalul Hossain and Dr Shahdeen Malik.
The court also fixed June 16 as the date for the next hearing of the contempt rule issued against the journalists.
On January 7, the weekly published a report headlined "A High Court judge whitens black money".
Following this report, an HC bench on January 10 issued a suo moto contempt rule against 18 journalists, including Editor Ekramul Huq and reporter Nasrin Akhter, and asked them to appear in person before the court during the hearing.
The court also asked them to reveal the source of information.
Later, the chief justice constituted a new HC bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Abu Tariq to hear the case.
On June 5, the bench exempted Ekramul Huq from personal appearance in the court following a prayer.
The bench yesterday exempted the 13 journalists from personal appearance following their prayer.
Advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel for the journalists, said four other journalists are now abroad.