Law-&-Order
JP: Court clears petition on withdrawal of ban of GM Quader’s party activities
A Dhaka court on Wednesday cleared a petition filed for withdrawal of an embargo on political activities of Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader.
Dhaka Joint District Sessions Judge-1 Masdul Haque passed the order after hearing in this regard.
On Thursday, the hearing on the petition ended while the court fixed Wednesday for delivering its order.
However, the court also fixed November 30 for submitting a written reply and hearing its main lawsuit.
On October 6, several lawyers including Sheikh Sirajul Islam and Kalim Ullah Majumdar stood for GM Quader with a petition to withdraw the ban on his political activities at the court.
In the petition, the lawyers also urged the court to lift the embargo to play his role as Chairman as per constitution of the party.
Dhaka Joint District Sessions Judge court-1 issued a temporary embargo on the political activities of GM Quader after the plaintiff of the case lodged a petition on October 31.
The party-backed lawmaker Mashiur Rahman Ranga filed another case against four people including GM Quader on the same demand at the same court on October 3.
According to the case statement, the party’s founder HM Ershad died on September 14, 2019.
Quader declared himself as chairman of the party through forgery at a council on December 28, 2019 when a writ petition case was pending at the High Court.
Later, Quader as party chairman fired several leaders including Ranga, Gazipur metropolitan unit’s advisor Ataur Rahman Sarkar and Organising Secretary Sabur Sikdar, among others, by exercising his power as per constitution of the party.
Besides, Ranga was also removed from the post of presidium member of the party on September 14 and Advocate Ziaul Hoque Mridha from the party on September 17.
Read more: Jatiya Party removes Ranga as opposition chief whip
In the case, orders were sought to declare all removals from December 28, 2019 to September 17, 2022 and council as illegal while the next council of the party to keep stayed unless the HC writ petition is disposed of.
Read more: Jatiya Party doesn't subscribe to the concept of election under caretaker government: Chunnu
'Hello SB' app brings police services to people's fingertips
Police have brought "Hello SB," an app of its Special Branch (SB), to make it easier for people to get services.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun Wednesday launched the app at SB headquarters in Dhaka to bring police services to people's fingertips.
E-passport, machine readable passport, passport renewal and correction, immigration, dual citizenship, visa issuance and renewal, registration, security clearance, NGO-related information, travel and some other services can be availed through Hello SB.
Also, through this app, any unnecessary delay in passport-related work, misbehaviour and unethical proposals by any SB member and misbehaviour and harassment by immigration officers can be reported.
Read more: Increase supervision to ensure quality service: IGP tells officers
Hello SB can be downloaded from any android mobile phone's play store.
Earlier, the IGP addressed a briefing for the members of SB, the specialised intelligence unit of the police, at SB headquarters.
SB chief Additional IGP Md Monirul Islam presided over the briefing. CID Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia, SB DIG (Administration) Md Humayun Kabir also spoke.
Read more: Strategic plan launched to ensure greater gender equality in Bangladesh police force
The IGP said: "SB assists the government by providing advanced intelligence on any issue, including militancy, terrorism, politics, law and order, natural calamities, and celebration of religious festivals. It has an important role in maintaining the stability of the state and law and order in the country.
Another police officer sent on compulsory retirement
Another police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) has been sent on compulsory retirement.
Public Security Division under the Home Ministry, issued a notification in this regard, signed by its senior secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan on Wednesday.
Read more: 2 Additional DIGs sent on compulsory retirement
According to the notice, Md Ali Hossain Fakir, former commanding officer of Armed Police Battalion-3, has been sent on compulsory retirement according to section 45 of Public Service Act, 2018.
The order will come into effect immediately in public interest, the notification said.
Read more: Three SPs sent on compulsory retirement
Ali Hossain was last attached to Rajshahi Range Police, it added.
Earlier, two police officers of the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General and three SPs were sent on compulsory retirement on October 31 and October 18 respectively.
Chinese national among 6 jailed in graft case
A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced six people including a Chinese national to different jail terms in a case filed over embezzling Tk 2.59 crore.
Judge of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Iqbal Hossain handed down the judgment.
Read more: HC clears way to continue graft case against BNP leader Dulu
Of them, Chairman of The Sinfa Knitters Limited Chinese national Yang Wang Chug and its director Khasru Al Rahman get 13 years imprisonment while its director Mansurul Haque and Golam Mostafa 10 years imprisonment. All of them were tried in absentia.
Besides, then senior vice-president of National Bank Dilkusha branch Abdul Wadud Khan and its executive vice president Shahabuddin were sentenced to six years jail. The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more rigorous imprisonment.
On October 26, a court fixed November 16 for delivering judgment in the case.
Read more: HC cancels 2014 acquittal of accused trio in Tk 12cr Sonali Bank graft case
According to the case statement, the convicts, in collusion with each other took loan Tk 2.59 crore from National Bank after submitting a fake document of land against their business company and embezzled the whole money.
A deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case with Motijheel Police Station on January 17, 2017.
On June 24, 2018, police submitted chargesheet against the six people.
4 sentenced to death in Cox’s Bazar in narcotics case
Four people, including a Rohingya man, were sentenced to death in a narcotics case filed for possessing 13 lakh Yaba pills in 2020.
The condemned convicts are—Ayaz, 34, son of Bashir Ahmed of Baluakhali Rohingya camp, Billal, 37, son of Abdul Majid of Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila, Azimullah, 43, son of Makbul Ahmed and Abul Kalam, 37, son of Foyjul Haque of Khagrachhari district.
Read more: 58 held in anti-narcotics drive in city
Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail handed down the punishment.
The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each.
According to the prosecution, a team of Rab-15 arrested arrested Ayaz and Billal from a fishing boat at Khuruschool Bridge in Cox’s Bazar district town on august 23, 2020.
The elite force also seized 13 lakh Yaba pills, Tk 10900 in cash and the boat.
A case was filed with Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station.
Read more: Narcotics department is to crack down on 3,500 listed drug dealers in Dhaka
Later, following the confessional statement of the arrestees, police arrested Azimullah and Abul Kalam.
On June 10, 2021, police submitted chargesheet against them.
Drug, militancy to be uprooted at any cost: Home Minister
Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday reiterated that drugs, militancy and terrorism will be uprooted from the country at any cost.
He made the remark while addressing at an anti-drug, militancy and terrorism rally held at Madrasha Babunagar Government Primary School in Satkania upazila of the district, as the chief guest on Tuesday.
“No drug is produced in our country, we don’t let anybody produce drugs and drives are on against the drugs” he said.
The prisons of the country can accommodate only 40,000 accused while the number of accused can’t be reduced from that anyhow, he said.
Read more: Truth about drug smugglers firing at DGFI officer at Tombru border will be revealed: Home Minister
“A section of people carried out attack on Masjid, Temple and Church, it was found when looked back,” he said.
“We overcame from the killing of priest of Iskan temple, Holey Artisan Bakery”, he said adding that the world got surprised asking what was happening in Bangladesh.
Minister Kamal said “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a devoted soul of Islam and she does noting which goes against Islam, she starts her works with Namaz and recitation of the holy Quran,” he said.
Read more: Need to be tougher on drugs: Home Minister
Local lawmaker Pro Dr Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi presided over the programme where local Awami League leaders and high-ups of administration among others were present at the programme.
Sylhet police asks Anjumane Hefazat-e-Islam to postpone their ijtema till after BNP’s rally
Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) on Tuesday asked Anjumane Hefazat-e-Islam, a Qawmi madrasah-based organisation, to postpone their ijtema — slated for November 17-18 - to avoid any conflict with the main opposition BNP’s Sylhet division rally, scheduled for November 19.
Sudip Das, additional deputy commissioner of the SMP, confirmed the matter to UNB on Tuesday night.
He said they asked the ijtema organisers to fix any date after November 19 as the BNP had announced their divisional mass rally earlier.
Anjuman Hefazat-e-Islam called for a two-day Ijtema marking their 77th anniversary on November 17 and 18 in the city.
Despite the police warning though, it has been learned that the little-known Islamist group is determined not to postpone their programme to be held in Paraichak of South Surma upazila.
The organisation’s leaders including its Ameer Mufti Mawlana Muhammad Rashidur Faruk Barnobhi expressed their rigid stance of holding the prescheduled programme at the Truck Terminal of the upazila.
Read more: Ahead of BNP rally, Khulna turns into a city of processions
Md Shamsuddhoa, officer-in-charge of Moghlabazar police station, said they would take a decision in this regard after holding a meeting with high-ups officials.
Hearing on DB report in journalist Rozina's case deferred to Jan 15
A Dhaka court on Tuesday fixed January 15 next year for the hearing on the investigation agency's recommendation to exempt Prothom Alo senior journalist Rozina Islam from charges in an Official Secrets Act case.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Noor deferred the date of the hearing on the final report of Detective Brunch (DB) police against Rozina.
The report of DB police was scheduled to be heard today (Tuesday).
Read more: Article 19 applauds authorities for clearing journalist Rozina of charges
On October 11, DB, the investigation agency of the case, submitted the final report seeking exemption of Rozina from the charges.
Rozina, known for her health journalism, was detained at the Secretariat for over five hours before being handed over to police on May 17 last year.
She allegedly clicked photos of documents related to government negotiations with pharma firms to buy Covid-19 vaccines, according to case documents.
Read more: Journalist Rozina walks out of jail after one week
An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division with Shahbagh Police Station.
Later, on May 18, a Dhaka court sent Rozina to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand. Rozina was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on that day only.
On May 23, she walked out of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail after securing interim bail from a Dhaka court.
6 govt officials sued over not paying money for land acquisition of Bangabandhu Tunnel
A case has been filed against six government officials, including a senior assistant commissioner of the Chattogram district administration, for dilly-dallying to pay money due for land acquisition under the Bangabandhu Tunnel Project.
The case was filed at the court of Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Dev, said the plaintiff’s lawyer Advocate Anamul Hoque.
Taking the allegations into cognisance, the court asked the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit a report before it after investigating.
The plaintiff is Md Hemayet Hossain, a resident of the port city’s Halishahar area.
Read more: GK Shamim: Court sets Sept 25 for verdict in arms case
On the other hand, the accused are the district administration’s Senior Assistant Commissioner (land acquisition department) and Executive Magistrate Ahsan Murad, land surveyor Mohammad Abdul Mumin, surveyors Mohammad Iman Hossain Gazi, Muktar Hossain, Abu Kawsar Sohel and their office attendant Belayet Hossain Bulu.
According to the case statement, the victim’s grandfather Omda Miah had two families. Of them, there were two each sons and daughters in the first family and four sons in the second family.
four sons of the second family obtained some lands from their grandfather as heirs but the first family’s members could not accept the matter.Meanwhile, the government took the land as acquisition for the Bangabandhu Tunnel through the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram.
Centering the matter, victim Hemayet, a member of the first family, filed a case with a civil court in Chattogram earlier. Subsequently both the groups moved the High Court that ordered to take the money equally.
Following the order, a deal was inked between them over sharing the money on March 13, 2016.
Dodging the first family’s members, the members of the second family kept the money of the land acquisition under the custody of the prime accused.
Read more: No prior permission needed to arrest govt officials for criminal offence
The victim and others submitted a written complaint seeking money to the executive magistrate Ahsan Murad but they received no response in this regard for a long time.
November 10 this year, the victim along with one Md Fakhrul Islam went to the magistrate’s office and wanted to know about the update of their complaint.At one stage of the altercation, all the accused allegedly harassed the duo physically and abused them verbally.
Pirojpur PP apologises for misbehaving with chief judicial magistrate
Khan Md Alauddin, Public Prosecutor of Pirojpur on Tuesday sought unconditional apology from the High Court for misbehaving with district Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Zafar Md Noman.
After the hearing, the court warned PP Alauddin and exempted him from contempt of the court.
High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order in the public interest.
Advocate Fida M. Kamal and Sayed Ahmed Raza stood for the PP in the court, accompanied by Abdullah Al Mamun while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state during the hearing.
Read more: Defamation Suit: Court summons Shajahan Khan
Addressing the PP, the court said, "You are the lawyer for the state. You are the leader of the bar. As a lawyer at the bar, such behavior with the court is not desirable. If you do not respect the court, how will the dignity of the court be protected? It is PP’s responsibility to assist judges in keeping the court's environment civil. Such behavior cannot be expected."
On July 25, during hearing on the bail plea of an accused named MD Hafizur Rahman Siddiqui, the CJM asked all the lawyers to step outside the courtroom except the plaintiff’s and defendant’s lawyers, after being unable to control the heated arguments between the two sides.
Read more: HC dismisses defamation cases against Asian Age chairman Shoaib Chowdhury
On September 19, Pirojpur CJM Abu Zafar Md Noman sent a letter to Supreme Court Registrar General alleging PP Md Alauddin had misbehaved.
On October 17, the High Court summoned PP Alauddin to appear before the court on November 15 and present his statement in this regard.