Dinajpur Municipality Mayor Syed Jahangir Alam appeared before the court on Thursday and offered an unconditional apology to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for making derogatory remarks against a judge of the division.

Mayor Jahangir appeared before the five-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and apologised.

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The court also exempted him from appearing before the court in person and set October 12 for the next hearing.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on August 17 summoned the mayor and asked him to appear before the court on August 24 in person for making derogatory remarks against a judge.

The court also asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to remove the video containing the mayor's remarks from the internet.

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Four lawyers of the Supreme Court filed a contempt of court petition over the mayor making derogatory comments against Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division M Enayetur Rahim centring the verdict against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The four lawyers are advocates Harun-or-Rashid, Mahfuzur Rahman Roman, Md Moniruzzaman Rana and Shafique Raihan Shaon.

The SC also issued a rule asking the government to explain why Mayor Jahangir should not be punished under the contempt of court rule and why directives should not be given to issue a show cause notice against him.

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Advocate Shaha Manjurul Haque stood for the petitioners, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Barrister Ruhul Kuddus represented the state and Mayor Jahangir, respectively.

Jahangir Alam was elected mayor of Dinajpur municipality in 2011.