Law-&-Order
Rohingya woman killed in Cox’s Bazar camp
A Rohingya woman was slaughtered to death allegedly by her husband over a family feud in a camp of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
The deceased Adiya Khatun, 23, was wife of one Nur Kamal in bloc-D under the camp No. 25 of Teknaf Rohingya camp.
Locals said the couple locked into an altercation and at one stage the husband attacked his wife with a sharp weapon.
Read: 18-year-old shot dead in Kutupalong Rohingya camp
Sayed Jubayer, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station, said on information they rushed to the spot and found the body was taken to an NGO-run hospital where physicians declared her dead upon arrival.
The body was sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said, adding that a process was underway to file a case in this connection.
The accused is now on the run and an effort is on to nab him, the OC added.
Read more: Rohingya man stabbed to death in Cox’s Bazar camp
Hasina-Xi talks in Johannesburg showcased world example of relations between developing countries: Ambassador Yao
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said the Johannesburg meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping showcased for one more time to the world the example of relations between developing countries jointly set up by Bangladesh and China.
“It was the first face-to-face meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since the latter’s formal visit to China four years ago. We have long been waiting for this meeting. It would definitely tide up new momentum for our bilateral relations,” he told UNB in his first interview since arrival in Dhaka, noting that it is his sacred mission to fully implement the consensus reached by the two leaders to push the “Strategic Partnership of Cooperation” between the two countries to a new level.
As briefed by Ambassador Yao, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the traditional friendship and good relations between Bangladesh and China “based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs”.
Also read: China to support Bangladesh in joining BRICS: XI tells Hasina during talks
They reassured mutual support on issues of respective core interests.
Satisfied by joint achievements made under the umbrella of Belt and Road cooperation, the two leaders vowed to further strengthen integration of development strategies, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance all-round exchanges, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.
During this meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Bangladesh showed interest in strengthening cooperation with China in the bloc and other multilateral mechanisms.
The Chinese leader congratulated Bangladesh on joining the New Development Bank, and vowed to enhance coordination and cooperation with Bangladesh in multilateral affairs to safeguard international fairness and justice and serve the common interests of developing countries.
“From the minute of the meeting, all we read is mutual support and joint cooperation, with no hint of any difference,” said Yao, stressing that interactions between top leaders provide political and strategic guidance for development of bilateral relations, the importance of which would never be exaggerated.
“It is high on my agenda to facilitate more in-person visits and meetings of this kind in the days to come,” he added.
Relations in Challenging Situation
Ambassador Yao said China and Bangladesh share significant commonalities in terms of moral values, national dreams and development paths.
“Since President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly upgraded our bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation in 2016, we have set a model of friendly ties between developing countries for the world at large,” he said.
China now stands as the single largest trade partner and a key development partner of Bangladesh. “Wherever I go in Bangladesh, the local people would always give me thumbs-up for China-Bangladesh friendship,” the ambassador said.
At international arenas, China and Bangladesh both stand for peace and development. “We share similar views on hotspot issues like the Ukraine crisis. China’s effort to help resume Saudi-Iran diplomatic relations was also welcomed in Bangladesh,” he said.
“China is working with Bangladesh in meeting regional and global challenges, such as the repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State of Myanmar, tackling climate change, upholding the right to development, and supporting the UN peacekeeping efforts,” the envoy added.
“Based on equal footing, mutual respect, joint development and common commitment to peace, relations between China and Bangladesh infuse the power of certainty and stability to an increasingly trembling world,” he said.
Non-Intervention in Upcoming Election
“China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” President Xi said in the Johannesburg meeting, adding that China upholds Bangladesh’s efforts to fend off external interference and maintain domestic unity and stability, so as to ensure development and revitalization.
Yao said the upcoming election is an internal affair of Bangladesh, and their policy is very consistent that China never intervenes in any country’s internal affairs.
“The future of Bangladesh shall be determined by the Bangladeshi people,” said the ambassador adding “China is full of confidence for the better future of Bangladesh as well as China-Bangladesh relations.”
For the time being, over 600 Chinese enterprises are functioning in Bangladesh, and tens of thousands of Chinese citizens are living and working here.
Also read: Hasina-Xi Talks in Jo'burg: Dhaka wants to discuss regional stability, trade, investment issues with Beijing
According to Ambassador Yao, the Chinese companies proactively undertake social responsibilities on boosting local economy, protecting the environment, providing social services to host communities, help create job opportunities, build capacity for manpower and promote charity. “With their contribution and efforts, the hearts of the two peoples are brought together ever closer,” he said.
When asked whether he is concerned about the interests of Chinese companies and citizens in the context of heated political air, Yao replied that the Chinese people are here for friendship and joint development with Bangladeshi people. “Their safety and security should surely be guaranteed, and their lawful interests should be protected,” he opined.
Priorities Ahead
Bangladesh and China will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025. “It would be a perfect occasion to review achievements in the past and map forward for the future,” the ambassador said.
He promised that China would do its part to help Bangladesh to graduate from the LDCs by 2026, and fuel up joint development to achieve respective national dreams which are “well-connected”.
“Practical cooperation is the cornerstone of China-Bangladesh relations. While implementing projects agreed during high-level visits back in 2016 and 2019, we will take the initiative with Bangladesh to figure out more under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) on connectivity infrastructure, renewable power section, blue economy, digital empowerment, so on and so forth,” said the Chinese envoy.
In terms of trade, he said, local exporters are encouraged to fully leverage China’s 98% zero-tariff treatment for Bangladeshi products and showcase the brand of “Made in Bangladesh” on expositions held in China, such as China International Import Expo, China-South Asia Expo and Canton Fair.
The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong should eye on high-end and high-value industries to serve the Smart Bangladesh development strategy as well as the high-quality development paradigm of China, he said.
“We’d encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to increase investment in promising fields like new energy, ICT, advanced manufacturing, and agri-product processing,” Ambassador Yao said, adding that he would also push forward the cooperation on disaster management and relief, military exchanges, law enforcement coordination and maritime cooperation during his tenure in Dhaka.
“Of course, as the Chinese ambassador, I’d play my role in mediating between Bangladesh and Myanmar to facilitate the early and sustainable repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State,” he underscored.
BRI Project
“The Belt and Road Initiative has brought about tangible benefit for the Bangladeshi people,” Ambassador Yao said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described BRI a ‘trailblazer’ for Bangladesh’s development.”
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launching of BRI and the 7th anniversary of Bangladesh’s participation in the initiative.
“In recent years, we’ve witnessed completion of a good number of projects built under the BRI that have significantly changed the development landscape of Bangladesh, such as the Info-Sarker phase 3 project, the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center, the Payra Thermal Power Plant, the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, among others,” he said.
“Connectivity will be further improved between the Southwestern part and the rest of the country when the Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuri River and the First Section of the Padma Bridge Railway Link open for traffic by the end of this year,” he noted.
Asked about the latest status of on-going development projects, he said that projects like Modernization of Telecommunication Network for Digital Connectivity and the Installation of Single Point Mooring with Double Pipeline Project will be completed soon.
“The Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant will start its construction, and the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project is also under discussion between authorities of the two sides,” he added.
HC summons Naogaon Bar Association president, gen secretary
The High Court on Thursday summoned the president and the general secretary of Naogaon Bar Association to explain why any lawyer did not stand for the accused in a theft case at the house of a lawyer in Naogaon Bar Association .
The High Court asked them to appear in court at 10 am on Wednesday, August 30, and give an explanation.
Read: MoFA official lands in Madaripur jail in case of dowry and torture filed by wife
The High Court bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Shashank Shekhar Sarkar passed the order during the hearing the transfer of the case from Naogaon court, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik confirmed.
The Deputy Attorney General said that the court has directed the district judge and the district commissioner to ensure the presence of the president and secretary of the bar association.
Read: Amassing illegal wealth: Regent's chairman Shahed jailed for 3 years
Besides, the court asked the Attorney General to be present during the hearing on August 30.
MoFA official lands in Madaripur jail in case of dowry and torture filed by wife
A court in Madaripur on Thursday sent an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to jail after his wife filed a case accusing him of demanding dowry, hiding his alleged first marriage and torture.
Madaripur Chief Judicial Magistrate Mamunur Rashid passed the order after accused Md Abdul Wadud Akanda,37, counselor (political) at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi appeared before the court to answer the accusations following a summon.
Read: Show zero tolerance against drug dealers: IGP
The court denied him bail and sent him to jail after a long hearing on the accusations, said Madaripur Bar Association secretary Advocate Golam Kibria .
According to the plaintiff Zareen Rafa Nilanti, 26, the couple got married on April 17, 2019 and they have a daughter. But she later came to know that her husband suppressed the fact about an earlier marriage to another woman.
Read: Appellate Division orders BNP leader Nipun Roy to surrender within 8 weeks
On October 7, 2022, sitting at the house of one of plaintiff's relatives, the accused demanded Tk 40 lakh and a 5 katha plot in dowry from Zareen, according to the case.
Man to die for killing teenage girl after rape in Munshiganj
A Munshiganj court on Thursday sentenced a man to death for killing a teenage girl after rape in 2018.
The condemned convict is Md Khokon, 35, owner of a tailoring shop and son of Babul Mia of Sirajdikhan upazila of the district.
Read:96 Jamaat-Shibir men indicted involving alleged violence in Motijheel
Munshiganj Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Faizunnesa handed down the punishment. The court also sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for hiding the body and fined him Tk 7,000.
According to the prosecution, 17-year-old Laila Akter Limu went to a tailoring shop named ‘Dorji Ghar’ at Chan Super Market of Baroikhali Bazar in Srinagar upazila of the district to make a dress for her on August 28, 2018.
Read: Man arrested from Dhaka over rape of 4-year-old in Chapainawabganj
Khokon kept the girl confined tactfully to his shop and violated her. He then killed the girl after strangulating her and dumped the body in the Icchamoti River.
On August 31, local people spotted the body of Limu. Later police arrested Khokon.
Read:2 get life imprisonment in Cumilla drug case
Abdul Matin, father of Limu. filed a case with Srinagar Police.
After examining records and witnesses, Munshiganj Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Faizunnesa pronounced the verdict.
Show zero tolerance against drug dealers: IGP
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on Wednesday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a specialised unit of Bangladesh Police, to show zero tolerance against drug dealers.
He also ordered to play a more dynamic role in prevention of financial crime and human trafficking, suppression of cybercrime and collection of criminal intelligence.
The IGP came up with the directives while addressing a views-exchange meeting as the chief guest held at the CID headquarters in the city's Malibagh on Wednesday.
Read: Police don’t give political statements, perform duties to protect law: IGP
The chief of the police also participated in open discussions with the officers and employees of various wings of the CID. Later, he unveiled a book titled “CID in Smart Investigation” published on the achievements of CID in the past one year.
In the meeting, the unit heads of various branches of CID discussed the activities of the branch in detail. They presented future plans and challenges.
In his speech, the top officer of Bangladesh police praised the activities of the CID, saying that the unit has already managed to gain the trust of the general people including various units of the government.
He emphasised on CID's group-based investigation activities, case management system and maintaining forward diary.
Read: Strict action if anyone tries to deteriorate law and order: IGP
The IGP also praised the CID Chief Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia for taking new initiatives including Cyber Monitoring Cell, Human Trafficking Monitoring Cell, Prosecution Cell in CID.
The CID chief in his speech highlighted the ongoing activities to combat crimes.
He also highlighted the various challenges in the modernisation of CID and emphasised on taking cyber and forensic training and research programmes at home and abroad to develop skills.
Read more: IGP promises stern action against any attempt to efface law and order
4 Jamaat men detained in Barishal
Police detained four supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami just prior to bringing out a procession without permission in Boutala Raju Miahar Pool area of Barishal city on Wednesday morning.
The detainees identified as Sultan Hawlader, 40, Mizanur Rahman Salam, 66, Nasir Uddin, 40, and Al Muin, 21, are residents of different areas of the city.
Read: 9 suspects detained for attacking train, snatching valuables in Tongi
Arafat Hasan, sub inspector of Kotwali Model Police Station, said they detained the four fellows of Jamaat-e-Islaim after chasing them when they were about to bring out a procession without permission from the authorities concerned in Boutala Raju Miahar Pool area around 8 am.
Legal actions will be taken against them following directives from the higher officials.
Read more: 34 Buet students among 36 detained while touring Tanguar Haor
96 Jamaat-Shibir men indicted involving alleged violence in Motijheel
A court in Dhaka on Wednesday indicted 96 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir in a case involving violence in Dhaka’s Motijheel area about 11 years ago. Jamaat Ameer (chief) Dr Shafiqul Rahman is among the accused.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saiful Islam made the decision after accepting police chargesheet against them as he rejected the plea for dropping the case against the suspects. It means the trial has begun formally, and recording testimonies from the witnesses will begin on September 17.
Read: Sabotage case: 46 BNP-Jamaat men indicted in Ctg
Shafiqur and the party’s Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar were produced before the court during the hearing of the case on Wednesday.
Other suspects who are on bail were also present during Wednesday’s order. They said they were not guilty and prayed for justice.
Defence lawyers pleaded for excluding the accused from the charges but state counsel Hemayet Uddin Khan opposed it.
Read: 250 sued over Jamaat-police clash in Ctg over Sayeedi’s 'gayebana janaza'
On November 5 in 2012, around 200 to 300 Jamaat-Shibir men allegedly torched and vandalised vehicles to destabilise the country to release their imprisoned leaders and others on Toyenbee Circular Road in Motijheel area.
Later, a case was filed by police with Motijheel Police Station.
Police pressed the chargesheet against 97 Jamaat-Shibir men after investigation. But one died.
Read more: 5000 Jamaat-Shibir activists sued over violence at Shahbagh after Sayeedi’s death
Appellate Division orders status-quo on investigation against S Alam Group
The Appellate Division on Wednesday ordered the authorities concerned to maintain a status-quo until January 8 on the High Court's order to investigate allegations over S Alam Group's foreign investments and money transfers without permission from Bangladesh Bank.
The court fixed hearing on the same day before the regular bench of the Appellate Division.
Chamber judge Justice M Inayetur Rahim passed the order in response to S Alam Group’s petition seeking a stay on the High Court's order.
The Daily Star's report on 'S Alam's Aladdin's lamp': HC for probe into allegation
S Alam Group was represented by senior lawyers Ajmalul Hossain KC, Ahsanul Karim, and Sayeed Ahmed.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Consequently, the investigation into S Alam Group's foreign investment and money transfer allegations will be put on hold until January 8 of the next year, said lawyers of the group.
The High Court on August 6 asked the authorities concerned to investigate the allegations brought against S Alam Group over transferring money abroad and investing in foreign countries without permission from Bangladesh Bank and submit the report within two months.
5 held for spreading rumors on social media about Islami Bank, S Alam group
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the suo moto rule when Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, a prominent lawyer of the Supreme Court, drew the attention of the court after attaching a report published by The Daily Star with the headline "S Alam's Aladdin's lamp".
According to the report, S Alam Group owner Mohammed Saiful Alam has built a business empire in Singapore worth at least about USD 1 billion, although there is no record of him taking permission from Bangladesh Bank to invest or transfer any funds abroad.
The HC also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a report to Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit after inquiring into whether there is any money laundering issue or whether S Alam Group took permission from Bangladesh Bank.
Observers appointed for S Alam Group-controlled IBBL and FSIB
It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the failure of the respondent to prevent the money laundering issue should not be declared illegal.
The HC issued another rule asking the government to explain why directives should not be given to investigate the allegations against S Alam Group and why necessary steps should not be taken against the person and organisation involved in the incident.
Additionally, Bangladesh Bank was tasked with submitting a report to the High Court indicating whether the funds were transferred abroad with the bank's approval.
Tk 30,000cr loan from Islami Bank: HC asks S Alam Group to explain reports
11 get life imprisonment for 2019 murder of man in Laxmipur
A Laxmipur court on Tuesday sentenced eleven people to life imprisonment for killing a union parishad member in 2019.
Laxmipur District and Session Judge Rahibul Islam handed down the punishment. The court also fined Tk 20,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more in rigorous imprisonment.
The lifers are-Jamal Hossain, Jashim Uddin, Shahjahan, Foysal Khan Joy, Milon alias CNG Milon, Al-Amin, Barkat, Nishan, Rubel, Charchamita Sumon and Lokman. All but Rubel and Milon tried in absentia.
According to the prosecution, the convicts opened fire on union parishad member Khorshed Alam Miron while he was sitting at a tea stall at East Aladapur village under Dattapara union on September 28, 2019, leaving him dead.
Tahmina, wife of Miron, filed a case with Chandraganj Police Station.
On March 24, 2021, police submitted chargesheet against 25 people.
After examining records and witnesses, the court handed down the punishment and acquitted 13 others as allegations brought against them could not be proved.