Online Desk: The High Court (HC) on Wednesday sentenced BNP Vice Chairman Md Habibur Rahman Habib, also adviser to the BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, to five months imprisonment for contempt of the court by threatening a judge Md Akharuzzaman for sentencing the party chief Khaleda Zia earlier in two cases.

A bench of Justice Abu Taher Mohammad Saifur Rahman and Justice Bashir Ullah passed the verdict in the presence of Habib.

Earlier, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the BNP leader Habib from Mirpur DOHS in the capital on Tuesday (November 21) for not appearing in court despite directions of the HC in connection with a contempt of court rule against him.

Habib at a political rally had said that the body of Justice Akharuzzaman would be exhumed after changeover of power, if he died during the regime of the present government.
In a video clip, his speech was circulated on social media about Justice Akhtaruzzaman for sentencing Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

While serving as a judge in the judicial court, Akhtaruzzaman pronounced a judgement on February 8, 2018, sentencing the BNP chairperson to 5 years in jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Later, he was appointed as a judge in the High Court Division.

On October 15, the HC summoned the BNP leader Habib to explain his adverse comments on Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman. He was asked to appear the HC on November 6.

At the same time, the court issued a ruling asking why disciplinary action would not be taken against him for contempt of court. He, however, did not appear in the court on November 6.