United News of Bangladesh

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking why the provision in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) that requires candidates in an electoral alliance to use their respective party symbols while contesting elections should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the rule after hearing a writ petition. The Law Secretary, Election Commission (EC), and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) have been asked to respond within 10 days. Senior lawyer Ahsanul Karim, along with Reshad Imam and Shahedul Azam, appeared for the petitioner. Lawyer Kamal Hossain Miyaji represented the Election Commission, while Deputy Attorney General Akhtar Hossain Md. Abdul Wahab appeared for the state. The writ, filed on November 27 by Mominul Amin, secretary general of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Bobby Hajjaj, challenges the amended RPO provision that mandates each registered party in an alliance to run under its own symbol. Previously, parties in an alliance could field candidates under the symbol of any partner party. The government issued the amendment through an ordinance on November 3. The advisory council had granted in-principle approval to the draft ordinance on October 23. The BNP and several smaller parties have raised objections to the provision, arguing that it complicates alliance arrangements. The party submitted formal objections to the Election Commission and the law ministry.

There is no known legal bar preventing BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman from returning to Bangladesh, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said on Monday (December 01). “If any obstacles exist, we will certainly cooperate (with him). We will make the best possible arrangements for his security,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The adviser said the decision to return rests entirely with Tarique Rahman. “He has the authority to choose the appropriate time. I believe he will return when he considers it right,” he added. Read more: 'Political realities prevent my return', says Tarique as he seeks prayers for Khaleda Responding to questions about why Tarique has not yet returned, the adviser said such speculation is unnecessary. “Many people raise questions about his return, but I find those comments uninteresting. This is a matter between a mother and her son. Is there any directive from Begum Khaleda Zia, or does Tarique Rahman have personal considerations? I don’t think it is appropriate to comment on that,” he said. “We must understand that this is a mother-son relationship. He knows best when to come and when to take any action,” Nazrul added. Read more: No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt

A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced ex-PM  Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s daughter and British MP Tulip Siddiq to different jail terms in a case filed over the misuse of power in securing a 10-katha government plot in Purbachal area of the capital. Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 pronounced the verdict. Sheikh Hasina, earlier sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, was handed five years’ imprisonment, while Rehana seven years and Tulip Siddiq two years of jail. The court also fined each of them Tk 1 lakh with six months’ imprisonment in default of payment. Besides, 14 other accused were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each along with fine. Read more: RAJUK plot scam: Verdict in case against Hasina, Rehana, 15 others on December 1 According to the case statement, ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin filed the case on January 13 accusing Sheikh Rehana of unlawfully obtaining a 10-katha plot at Purbachal New Town through abuse of power and procedural irregularities. Seventeen people, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Tulip Siddiq, were named as accused in the case. On November 18, the court completed the witness examination and recording statements of 32 people. On July 31, the court framed charges against the accused. This case is part of six related cases with three others scheduled for verdict on November 27. Read more: Hasina gets 21 years in jail over Rajuk plot allocation irregularities

The Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order granting bail to Dhaka University professor Hafizur Rahman Karzon in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009. Justice Md Rezaul Haque, chamber judge of the Appellate Division, passed “no order” on a petition filed by the state challenging the High Court decision. As a result, there is no barrier to Prof. Karzon’s release from prison. Advocate Sheikh Ali Ahmed Khokon represented him. On November 24, the High Court had granted Prof. Karzon ad-interim bail for six months and issued a rule asking the state to explain why he should not be granted permanent bail. He was released from Dhaka Central Jail on November 28 following the order. Earlier on August 29, a Dhaka court ordered the police to send former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Prof. Karzon, journalist Monjurul Alam, and 15 others to jail. It was filed by Sub-Inspector Md Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station. Latif Siddique and Monjurul Alam were later released after securing High Court bail in the same case.

A bicyclist was stabbed to death by muggers in Lal Dighi area of the port city of Chattogram early Friday, said police. The incident occurred near Chattogram Zilla Parisahd Market, just a hundred yards off Kotwali Police Station around 2:30am. The deceased was identified as Ismail Hossain, 33, a resident from Lakshmipur Sadar upazila and a tea stall worker by profession in the city.   Quoting witnesses, police said that the muggers interrupted him and attacked with a knife in chest, leaving him critically injured. Later, he was rushed him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared him dead. His body is now kept at the hospital morgue. Officer-in-charge Abdul Karim of Kotwali Police Station said efforts are underway to unveil the murder and arrest those involved. A case will be filed after the autopsy, he added.

The Coast Guard has detained twelve individuals along with a lighter vessel carrying smuggled coal worth over Tk 1 crore under Kotwali Police Station in Barishal. Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq shared the information on Friday morning but did not disclose the identities of the detainees. Acting on a tip-off, the Barishal station team conducted a raid at 5:00 am on Friday near Charmonai Anand Ghat under Kotwali Police Station. During the operation, a suspicious lighter vessel was searched, and 1,100 metric tons of smuggled coal, valued at around Tk 1.1 crore, were seized, Lt. Cmdr. Siam-ul-Haq said. Initial interrogation revealed that the coal had been illegally smuggled from a foreign ship stationed at Mongla Hiran Point under false pretenses.

Clashes broke out multiple times on Thursday between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists in Ishwardi, Pabna. Over fifty activists from across the two sides, including Jamaat’s MP candidate for Pabna-4 (Ishwardi-Atghoria) constituency, Abu Taleb Mondal, were injured in the violence - although police put the number much lower, suggesting both sides reported exaggerated figures. The incident occurred in Char Gorgori area of Sahapur Union in the afternoon. The names of the injured are yet to be confirmed, and they have been admitted to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex. Locals said that Abu Taleb Mondal was heading from Rahimpur Bottola to Char Gorgori Alhaj Mor with a convoy of over 150 motorcycles when his procession met a BNP rally at Jogir Mor, triggering clashes between the two groups.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed will deliver his farewell speech to the judges of Bangladesh on December 14, ahead of his retirement later the same month. He is set to retire on December 27 upon reaching the retirement age of 67, the maximum age for serving in the role of Chief Justice. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said in a media statement on Thursday that this will be his final address to judicial officers across the country before stepping down. A major session has been scheduled at 3:00 pm at the Supreme Court auditorium. Senior judicial officers from district courts nationwide are expected to attend, including all district judges, metropolitan sessions judges, chief judicial magistrates, and chief metropolitan magistrates. In his farewell address, the Chief Justice will highlight the roadmap for judicial reform and overall development, the initiatives undertaken over the past one and a half years, and the future prospects. He is expected to provide important guidelines for ongoing reform activities, including the expansion of technology-based services, professional skill development of judicial officers, ensuring transparency in court operations, enhancing the capacity of subordinate court judges, improving access to justice, and addressing the backlog of cases. Syed Refaat assumed office as Bangladesh’s 25th Chief Justice following the July Uprising of 2024.

A Dhaka court on Thursday (November 27) sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in jail in three cases over irregularities in plot allocation by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).  Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 delivered the judgment in the packed-jam court in her absence. Hasina, who took shelter in India amid the mass protest on August 5 last year, got seven years in jail in each case, totaling 21 years of jail. Read more: ICT releases full verdict on Hasina, Kamal’s death penalty Her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were also awarded five years in jail each, with Joy facing a fine of Tk 1 lakh. Former RAJUK official Khurshid Alam, who was present at the dock during the verdict delivery, was sentenced to one year of jail. Besides, Housing and Public Works official Saiful Islam Sarkar was acquitted from the charges in the cases. The court in its observation said Sheikh Hasina betrayed the country by grabbing public property under her name without following legal procedures. On November 23, the court set November 27 to deliver judgment in the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over graft. On July 31, the court framed charges against 47 people including Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul in the cases. Read more: ACC’s year of mixed outcomes: 249 cases closed, yet acquittals dominate The other accused in the cases are Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, her daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Additional Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin, Administrative Officer Saiful Islam Sarker, Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Goldar, former Rajuk Chairman Anisur Rahman Mia, former members Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmoy Das, Nurul Islam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Director Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Deputy Directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former State Minister Sharif Ahmed, and former Prime Minister’s Private Secretary Salauddin. Ninety-one witnesses testified in the cases. The ACC filed the six cases in January this year accusing them of illegally securing Rajuk plots misusing their positions. Chargesheets in all six cases were submitted to court. According to the case statement, Sheikh Hasina and her family members in collaboration with high-ranking officials of Rajuk allocated plots on political considerations through abuse of power and irregularities, On July 20, the six cases over Rajuk plot allocation were transferred to the two special courts—Dhaka Special Court-4 and Special Court-5. Read more: Recovered gold not only Hasina’s, includes family members too, says ACC

A 25-year-old man has been hacked to death allegedly by his rivals over previous enmity in Gajaria upazila of Munshiganj district. The incident occurred in Chauddakahunia village of Baushia union in the upazila on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Joy Sarkar, son of Jamal Sarkar of the same village. According to locals, there had long been a dispute between Jamal’s family and another group in the village led by Nannu and his associates over dominance. Around 7:30pm on Wednesday, Nannu, Beku Hasan and others allegedly attacked Joy with sharp weapons near the local government primary school, leaving him critically injured. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot while the attackers fled, they said. Though he was rushed to Gajaria Upazila Health Complex, physicians declared him dead upon arrival. Dr. Noore Alam Ziku, an emergency doctor at the health complex, said Joy suffered deep cuts across his body and died due to excessive bleeding. Officer-in-charge Md Anowar Alam Azad of Gajaria Police Station, said efforts are underway to detain those accused in the murder. He informed that nearly a year ago the same group had previously attacked Jamal Sarkar, injuring his hand.