Law-&-Order
Nayapaltan clash: HC to hear Fakhrul, Abbas’s bail pleas on Tuesday
The High Court on Monday fixed Tuesday for hearing the bail petitions of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on December 7 last year.
The HC bench of Justice Md Selim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin fixed the date following the BNP leaders’ bail pleas.
Lawyer Sagir Hossain Leone filed separate petitions on their behalf on Monday, said BNP’s Legal Secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal.
On December 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Asaduzzaman rejected the BNP leaders’ bail petitions for the fourth time.
On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Read more: Nayapaltan clash: Fakhrul, Abbas denied bail for 4th time
Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas.
On December 12, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petitions of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas.
On December 15, the bail petitions of the two BNP leaders were rejected again.
A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from December 13.
They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police.
Read more: Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail
On December 7, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally.
Police filed four cases at Ramna, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan police stations against 720 BNP activists and over 2400 unnamed people in connection with the clash with BNP.
Of the BNP men, 450 were accused in the case filed at Nayapaltan police station, 20 in Motijheel police station case and seven in Shahjahanpur police station case.
6 ‘Al Qaeda-inspired militants’ arrested in city
Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested six suspected militants who were inspired by international militant group Al Qaeda.
The detainees were Abdur Rob, 28, Md Sakib, 23, Md Shamim Hossain, 18, Md Nadim Sheikh, 19, Md Absar, 20, and Md Saeed Uddin, 18.
A team of city intelligence analysis division of CTTC conducted drives in the capital’s Sayedabad Bus Terminal, Chattogam and Teknaf Teknaf and detained them on Sunday, said a press release of CTTC on Monday.
Read more: Jamaat chief knew his son was member of militant group: CTTC chief
During primary interrogation, the detainees said that they used to form gangs by communicating on social media and online based apps. They were staying in Teknaf for launching jihad in the country after receiving training with local associates.
Detainee Abdur Rob left for Saudi-Arabia last June in 2019 after studying at a Qawmi madrasa here. While staying in Saudi Arabia, he was inspired to join jihad seeing various jihadi posts and videos online, said the release.
Rob used to work as a moderator and bring everyone together online to discuss sharia-based state formation, Jihad, etc. Later, they got acquainted with a Bangladeshi who lives in abroad and established contact via audio-video calls, it said.
That member introduced everyone to another Bangladeshi in Libya and a local man from Teknaf. In the joint discussion, it was decided that Abdur Rob, Shamim, SaKib, Nadim, Saeed and others who are willing to migrate will first go to Teknaf and receive training through their local associates for waging jihad for the establishment of Islamic rule in Bangladesh, it added.
Read more: Top Ansar al-Islam leaders behind militants’ escape from Dhaka court: CTTC chief
On November 22 last year, Abdur Rob arrived in the country and rented a house for planning and counseling.
A case has been filed at Jatrabari police station against the detainees under the Anti-Terrorism Act, said the release.
CTTC arrests 6 Al Qaeda, Taliban followers
Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested six followers of the International militant organization Al Qaeda and Taliban who left home to join 'jihad'.
A team of CTTC conducted a drive in Teknaf and arrested them, Md. Faruq Hossain, deputy commissioner of DMP’s media and public relations division, told UNB on Sunday.
Read: Rab arrests 25 'muggers' from Dhaka in a night
DMP's Additional Police Commissioner (CTTC) will hold a press conference on Monday to give details on this matter, he added.
Goods worth Tk107 crore seized in December: BGB
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has said they seized goods, arms, and drugs worth around Tk107 crore in December.
The seized items include 282,709 yaba pills, 6.37kg crystal meth, 14,326 bottles of Phensedyl, 23,816 bottles of foreign liquor, 2,729 cans of beer, 2,696kg hemp, 14kg heroin, 22,762 stimulant injections, 6,892 Eskuf syrups, and 1,434 bottles of MkDil/Cofidil, Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters, said Sunday.
Read: BGB seized Tk98 crore goods in October
Also, 7.63kg gold, 17.30kg silver, 178,703 cosmetics, 6,538 imitation jewellery, 12,987 sarees, 3,055 three-piece sets, blankets and shirt pieces; 2,359 pieces of readymade garments, 2,340 cubic feet of timber, 5,053kg tea, 116,410kg coal, one touchstone idol, 55 motorcycles, eight trucks, nine pickup vans, 24 CNG and battery-run auto-rickshaws were also seized.
The seized arms include one pistol, six guns, six cocktails, one artillery shell, and 5,014 rounds of bullets.
Also, legal action was taken against 155 smugglers, and 38 Bangladesh nationals as well as three Indian nationals for illegally crossing the border, Shariful said.
End/UNB/MJ/MA
Fire incidents reported from different areas in Dhaka during New Year celebrations
Fire incidents were reported from Lalbagh, Tejgaon, Sadarghat and Mohammadpur areas in Dhaka in the early hours of Sunday due to use of sky lanterns for New Year celebrations, according to Fire Service.
Besides, Adabar area of the city faced blackout as lanterns fell on electrical lines and fire spread on the wires around 12am, said Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room Duty Officer Ershad Hossain.
However, no injuries or causalities were reported.
In Sadarghat, a fire broke out at the hawkers market from a sky lantern fell from a nearby building. Later, two units of fire fighters rushed to the spot, but it was doused by locals.
Fire broke out in a building at Lalbagh and another building at Tajgaon which were also doused soon.
However, the fire that broke out in a multi-storied building at Mohammadpur was massive and fire fighters doused the fire after a frantic effort, said the duty officer.
Read more: No outdoor celebrations on 31st night: DMP Commissioner
Meanwhile, a fire broke out in Adabar area as a lantern fell on an electric line, causing blackout in the entire area, he added. “It is not known whether electricity supply was restored there or not.”
Last year, around 10 fire incidents were reported on the 31st Night.
Dhaka dwellers used firecrackers and flew sky lanterns (fanush) on the 31st night despite Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) restrictions.
Read more: People remain indoors as fireworks light the sky to usher in New Year
Cattle trader shot dead ‘by BSF’ along Lalmonirhat border
A Bangladeshi cattle trader was shot dead allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) members along Burimari border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat early Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Bipul Hossain 23, of the upazila.
According to locals, a group of cattle traders including Bipul tried to bring Indian cows through Patgram border in the early hours of Sunday.
Read more: Bangladeshi shot dead ‘by BSF’ along Lalmonirhat border
Bipul sustained bullet when BSF opened fire at them, Omar Faruq, officer-in-charge (OC) of Patgram police station.
He succumbed to his injuries on the way to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, he added.
Read more: Another Bangladeshi man shot to death by BSF along Satkhira border
‘Ansarullah Bangla Team member’ arrested in Chattogram
Police arrested a suspected member of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team along with a firearm from Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram in the early hours of Saturday.
Mojaher Uddin alias Rajib, 33, was arrested from near gate no-2 of Chittagong Chemical complex near Barabkunda Bazar of the upazila.
Read more: Ansar-al-Islam member put on 7-day remand for link to escape of 2 militants
Police also recovered a firearm and two rounds of bullet from his possession, said Tofail Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sitakunda model police station, on Sunday.
“There are five cases against Mojaher. One case was filed against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Motijheel police station, another at Rajshahi’s Puthia police station under the Anti-Narcotics Act and another at Sitakunda police station under the Arms Act,” Tofail Ahmed said.
Read more: 3 more members of new militant group Jamatul Ansar held in N'ganj
Police also said Mojaher came to Sitakhunda form Dhaka one and a half months ago and committed robbery in different places.
Jamaat men to be brought to justice for attacking police: DMP Commissioner
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said on Saturday that the activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, involved with the attack on police on Friday at the capital's Malibagh will be brought to justice and no one offender will be spared.
"As they took out a procession without permission and attacked the police, DMP has taken the incident very seriously," he said at a press briefing held at the DMP media centre in the city.
Read: 4 arrested over murder of trader, assistant in Dhaka
Many policemen, including senior officers, got seriously injured and they are hospitalised, he added.
When asked about the failure of intelligence surveillance behind the attack, DMP Commissioner said, "This is not the case actually. We got the information that they will march from the front of Baitul Mukarram Mosque. But when they tried to march from the front of Rampura Abul Hotel, they were stopped by the police and came to Mouchak-Malibagh for holding the procession."
More than 5000 Jamaat activists sued over Friday’s clash with police in capital
Police on Saturday filed five separate cases against more than 5000 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in connection with clashes in the capital's Malibagh, Mouchak , Shahjahanpur and Rampura areas after Jumma prayers on Friday afternoon.
Among the cases, one each was registered with Ramna, Shahjahanpur and Rampura police station, while another two cases were filed with Khilgaon Police Station.
Sources at the DMP headquarters said Sub Inspector (SI) Subir Kumar registered a case with Ramna Police station against mentioning names of 91 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and unidentified names of several others.
SI Md Hayat Ali Khan filed a case with Shahjahanpur police station accusing 73 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami I and 800-900 unnamed others.
Names of around 63 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were mentioned alongside 3500-4000 others unnamed people of the organization in a case filed by SI Maruf Hossain with Rampura police station.
SI Rezaul Karim filed two separate cases with Khilgaon Police station. He mentioned names of total 148 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and several other unidentified people.
Various charges, including obstruction of government duty, assault on police and carried out explosions etc were brought against the accused of the five cases.
Clashes broke out between the law enforcers and activists and leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir in the capital's Malibagh, Mouchak, Shahjahanpur and Rampura areas as they tried to bring out a procession after Juma prayers on Friday, police said.
Dozens of people, including 10 cops and Jamaat- Shibir men sustained injuries during the clash.
The law enforcers detained several Jamaat-Shibir men over the incident.
No outdoor celebrations on 31st night: DMP Commissioner
No open air events, fireworks and crackers will be allowed on the eve of New Year, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruque on Saturday.
“No one will be allowed to hold outdoor programmes, use of crackers, fireworks or sky lanterns (fanush) will also remain prohibited on 31st night,” he said.
The DMP boss came up with the information at a press briefing held at the DMP media centre in the city.
Adequate police including plainclothes ones will be deployed to ensure security on the 31st night and check-posts will be set up in different parts of the city and people will have to undergo police checking so that no militants can carry out sabotage activities centering the night, he said.
The Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team of DMP, dog squad and bomb disposal units will kept ready to tackle any situation, said Faruque.
No DJ parties will be allowed and bars will remain closed from Saturday till 6 pm on Sunday, he said.
No one will be allowed to carry firearms at residential hotels till 10 am on Sunday, he added.
Also Read: Revellers gather in Cox's Bazar to usher in New Year
Besides, the entry of outsiders will remain restricted from 8 pm in Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas today but the Amtoli crossing and Kakoli crossing will be opened for allowing entry of residents of those areas, said the DMP commissioner.
Meanwhile, no outsiders will be allowed in Dhaka University area after 6 pm and no vehicles will be allowed there during this period. People can enter the university area through Nilkjhet and Shahbagh areas after showing their identity cards.
Firefighting units and ambulances will be keep ready in different important points of the city and no vehicles will be allowed in Hatirjheel area after sun set.
Also Read: 5 New Year Resolutions that are actually achievable
When asked about any possible militant threat, the DMP commissioner said there is no specific threat centering the 31st night.