Bangladesh
New bench to hear death references for convicts in Ramna Batamul bombing case
The High Court has dropped the death references, appeals and jail appeals of the convicts in the Ramna Batamul bombing case from its daily cause list for procedural purposes.
A special bench of Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin sat for the purpose on Monday
During this time Deputy Attorney General Shaheen Ahmed Khan represented the state and advocate Shishir Monir stood on behalf of the convicts.
Deputy Attorney General Shaheen Ahmed Khan said, "The hearing was taking place before the bench of Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin. But at present this bench no longer exists, and a new bench has been formed comprising Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajal. For this reason, Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin sat in a special bench to delist it, so that the Chief Justice can now appoint a new bench for it.”
On April 14, 2001, during the Chhayanat’s Bengali New Year celebrations at Ramna Batamul, a bomb blast left nine people dead on the spot. Another died at the hospital later.
Two cases under the Murder and Explosives Act were filed at Ramna Police Station after the incident. Dhaka's Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge ruled on June 23, 2014 in a murder case involving the bomb attack.
Eight people including Mufti Hannan, the top leader of Harkatul Jihad (Huji) were sentenced to death and six to life imprisonment. However, Mufti Hannan has already been hanged in a conviction over another grenade attack in Sylhet.
The death references and appeals of the convicts are currently awaiting hearing in the High Court.
Casino crackdown: Appellate Division cancels Joy Gopal’s bail order
The Appellate Division on Tuesday cancelled the bail granted by the High Court to Dhaka Wanderers Club general secretary Joy Gopal Sarker in four cases filed for his alleged involvement in illegal casino business.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order and directed to settle the cases within a year.
During the hearing, the Appellate Division said there is no scope to consider money laundering lightly as money laundering is increasing nowadays.
Advocate Md Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
On the other hand, Advocate Momtaz Uddin Fakir appeared for Joy Gopal.
On August 19, High Court Bench of Justice Md Najrul Islam Talukdar and SM Mojibur Rahman granted bail to the accused.
Read: Casino crackdown: Appellate Division stays Joy Gopal’s bail order
On August 23, the Appellate Division stayed for six weeks the bail granted by the High Court.
On July 14, 2019 Joy Gopal was arrested during a drive against casino business.
He was shown arrested in four separate cases filed with Gendaria, Sutrapur and Wari police stations later.
On July 22, 2020, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted the charge sheet of these cases.
According to the charge sheet, after his retirement as a footballer of the Wanderer’s Club, Joy Gopal became a member of the board of directors and later the cashier.
In 2014, he joined hands with AL leaders Enu, Rupom and became the general secretary of the club, getting involved in directing the casino club, said the charge sheet.
On September 18, 2019, a Rab-3 team conducted a drive at a casino inside Dhaka Wanderer’s Club where illegal drugs, fake currency, huge money and gambling materials were seized.
BGMEA showcases RMG industry’s strides in sustainability in COP26
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has showcased RMG industry’s strides in sustainability in COP26.
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) began in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31.
A pavilion of Bangladesh was inaugurated in the official venue of COP26 on November 1.
BGMEA’s official delegation to the COP26 headed by its President Faruque Hassan attended the inaugural ceremony.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, MP was present at the inaugural ceremony, said BGMEA on Tuesday.
The BGMEA delegation also included Vice President Miran Ali, Directors Asif Ashraf and Abdullah Hil Rakib, and Shams Mahmud, Managing Director of Shasha Denims Ltd.
One of the objectives of BGMEA was to showcase all the good works of the RMG sector on sustainability and highlight green revolutions and commitments.
Read: BGMEA sees the future in value-added, high-end apparel items
Jail Killing Day to be observed Wednesday
The nation is set to observe the Jail Killing Day on Wednesday with due solemnity.
Awami League and its associate bodies will pay tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the four national leaders slain in state custody on this day in 1975.
A press release said the Awami League leaders and workers will pay homage by laying wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of the Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi Road No 32 on a limited scale following Covid-19 health guidelines.
Tributes will also be paid to the four national leaders: Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Capt. Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman.
It also said the party leaders and workers will place wreaths at the graves of August 15 martyrs and national leaders.
The party will arrange a discussion at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city at 11 am.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
Read: AL to observe Jail Killing Day Wednesday
The President, in his message, said, “The aim of the killers was to erase the ideals of the Liberation War from the spirit of the young generation apart from giving rise to an undemocratic autocratic rule which failed.”
He urged all to work from their respective positions to complete the unfinished works of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a happy, prosperous Sonar Bangla. “This should be our promise in the Jail Killing Day.”
In her message, the Prime Minister said, “The killing of the four national leaders was the continuation of the assassination of the Father of the Nation along with his family. Through it, the defeated forces and anti-state quarters made an evil attempt to destroy the Liberation War spirit and render the Bangali national leaderless by erasing the name of Awami League.”
She urged people of the country to build poverty-free and happy, peaceful golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu.
On November 3, 1975, four national leaders and heroes of the country’s Liberation War -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman -- were assassinated inside the Dhaka Central Jail.
The four leaders played a key role in leading the Mujibnagar government, that led the Liberation War effort in 1971 with Syed Nazrul Islam as the acting president, Tajuddin Ahmad as the prime minister, Mansur Ali as the finance minister and AHM Qamruzzaman as the home, relief and rehabilitation minister.
Banglabandha UP chairman sent to jail for beating up plaintiff in court
A Panchagarh court on Tuesday sent Banglabandha Union Parishad Chairman Kudrat-e-Khuda Milon to jail in a case filed over beating up a plaintiff in the court premises.
Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Matiur Rahman also rejected bail for the chairman when he appeared before the court seeking bail.
He was granted a six-week bail in this case previously, on expiry of which he appeared in court today seeking an extension.
According to the case, Milon's associates beat up the plaintiff in the canteen of the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on September 16. Later on that day, sub-inspector Mozibar Rahman filed a case against seven people, including Milon at the Panchagarh Sadar Police Station. The other accused in the case are out on bail.
This time, Milon is contesting for the UP chairman post as an independent candidate.
BM College students protesting against increase in hall fees
Students of Barishal Brojmohun College on Tuesday threatened to bring all activities on campus to a standstill in protest against a move to increase their hall fees, apart from an 11-point charter of demands.
On Tuesday at 11:30 am, hundreds of residential students of the college gathered at the zero point of the campus for a meeting and later brought out a protest rally at the Natun Bazar-Nathullabad Central Bus Terminal road.
After that they submitted a memorandum with 11 points to the principal of the college and said they won’t return to class or hall until their demands are met.
Professor Mohammad Golam Kibria, principal, said the demands that are within the power of the college authority will be approved.
“We will sit with the students in this regard,” he said.
Abu Rayhan, a protesting student, said due to some mysterious reason after the reopening followed by long closure for Covid-19 the college authority has decided to increase the hall fees.
“The decision is inhuman if we have to pay more for staying in risky residential dormitories that need immediate restoration,” he said.
The students demanded making the residential halls livable, reforming the electric lines, arranging dining halls, building boundary walls and reallocating the hall ponds for the dormitories in the 11-point memorandum, he said.
“If the demands are not met we won’t return to class and dormitories and will go for stricter movement regardless of the consequences,” said the student.
E-commerce fraud: Adyan Mart CEO, 2 others remanded
A Chuadanga court placed three people including Chief Executive Officer of e-commerce platform Adyan Mart on a 3-day remand in a fraud case.
Senior Judicial Magistrate Manik Chandra Dash passed the order and asked police to interrogate another accused at the jail gate considering his age.
On Saturday Rab members arrested Adyan Mart CEO Juabayer Siddque Manik, its director and his brother Mahmud Siddique Ratan, their father Abu Bakar Siddique and manager of the e-commerce platform Minarul Islam in the case filed by Atiqur Rahman Ujjal at Chuadanga sadar police station.
Read: 49 e-commerce platforms are blacklisted, refund of customers’ money in process: Commerce Ministry
Later, police produced the arrestees before the court and sought a 7-day remand for each for interrogation.
Investigation officer in the case Sub Inspector Gopal Chandra Mondol said the court put the three accused on a a 3-day remand after hearing on the petition submitted by police.
In February, 2020, controversial e-commerce platform Adyan Mart started their activities in Chuadanga by opening a big office at Mominpur.
Read: E-commerce firms must get registered within 2 months: Cabinet
The company used to attract customers with lucrative offers. They managed to get huge orders from across the country but they did not deliver their products in time.
The company closed their customer care and all other offices few months ago.
Major Mohammad Shariful Ahsan, Company Commander of Rab-6, said a customer Atiqur Rahman Ujjal lodged a complaint against Adyan mart for embezzling around Tk 18.52 lakh.
US-funded cultural preservation project on SM Sultan’s artworks opened
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and Director General of Bangla Academy Mohammad Nurul Huda on Tuesday inaugurated the US-funded cultural preservation project on SM Sultan’s artworks at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi.
The 3-year initiative, funded through the U.S. government’s prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), supports study, analysis, and restoration of the largest collection of paintings by one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated artists and will train young Bangladeshi conservation professionals on sustainable conservation techniques, methodologies, and restoration models.
Ambassador Miller presented a ceremonial plaque to the Bengal Foundation’s Director General Luva Nahid Chowdhury to formally inaugurate the project and toured the SM Sultan exhibition at the gallery.
Energy efficiency essential for industries: Planning Minister
Planning Minister Abdul Mannan has said energy efficiency is essential for the country’s industries to sustain the global competition.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a webinar titled “Energy Efficiency Financing”, organised by Energy and Power magazine on Tuesday.
He said efficiency is essential not only for energy or industrial sectors, but also for all the sectors.
Held with magazine editor Mollah Amzad Hossain in the chair, the seminar was also addressed by Bangladesh Bank general manager KM Millat, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) director Farzana Montez, and GIZ programme coordinator Al Modabbir Bin Alam.
The minister said the Western countries are in an advance position when it comes to technological development and Bangladesh should follow them in taking advantage of the technology. “We should cooperate with them instead of ignoring them.”
Read: Planning Minister urges all to remain united for development
Farzana Momtaz said there is huge scope for improving energy efficiency in industrial sector and Sreda has been working on it.
She mentioned that Sreda has been implementing energy efficiency projects in industrial sector with financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“Industries could take soft loan from JICA funds to replace their inefficient machinery with efficient ones,” she said, adding that her organisation also engaged in monitoring energy efficiency activities in industries.
KM Millat said many industries are getting benefits from central bank’s refinancing scheme by taking green financing facilities.
Read: Govt will provide all logistic support to pvt sector: Planning Minister
“But it needs more awareness among the industry owners to utilize the facilities to make their ventures more energy efficient,” he added.
Al Modabbir Bin Anam said if a single unit of power is saved through emerge efficiency mechanism it creates spillover effects on the economy.
It plays a vital role in reducing the production costs as well as benefits others by creating more opportunities in consuming electricity, he observed.
Dengue kills 1 more in Bangladesh, 142 more hospitalised
Bangladesh reported another death from dengue fever, while 142 new patients were hospitalized in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the fresh death, the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease this year increased to 92, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of them 85 people died in Dhaka division alone, two each in Chattogram and Khulna divisions and one each in Rajshahi, Barishal and Mymensingh divisions.
Among the new patients, 109 were undergoing treatment in hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining 33 cases were reported from outside the division.
Some 709 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment in the country as of Tuesday.
Of them, 559 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 150 were listed outside Dhaka.
Since January, some 23,943 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue in the country. So far, 23,142 dengue patients have left hospitals after recovery, said DGHS.
In September, the country recorded the highest number of 7,841 dengue cases of the current year with 23 deaths.
In October, the number of Dengue cases came down to 5,604 with 22 deaths recorded.