Law-&-Order
Niko graft case: Charge framing hearing deferred again to May 24
A Dhaka court on Tuesday fixed May 24 for hearing on charge framing in the Niko graft case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and 10 others.
Judge of Dhaka Special Court-9 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman fixed the fresh date following a time petition filed by Khaleda’s lawyer.
Also read: Niko graft case: Charge framing hearing deferred to April 12
The time petition was filed as Khaleda Zia couldn’t appear before the court due to her illness, said Helal Uddin, a counsel of Khaleda Zia.
Earlier on March 8, the court deferred the hearing on charge framing in the case to April 12 (today).
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and four others of causing a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state by signing an oil and gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko on behalf of the state that was deemed to not place Bangladesh's national interest above all other considerations, and swayed by graft.
Also read: Hearing on Niko case charge framing Mar 18
The anti-graft body pressed charges in court against 11 people, including Khaleda, in May 2008.
The other accused in the case are BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain, former Bapex general manager Mir Mainul Haq, its former secretary Shafiur Rahman, Giasuddin Al Mamun, former parliamentarian MAH Selim and former vice-president of South-Asia affairs Niko Kashem Sharif.
BNP leader Ishraque gets bail
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain secured bail on Tuesday, six days after he was arrested and jailed in an arson attack case.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain passed the order on a bond of Tk 5,000.
Also read: BNP leader Ishraque lands in jail
Ishraque’s lawyer Taherul Islam Tawhid said his client was out of the country on the day of incident of torching a vehicle for which he was arrested.
He said the BNP leader was granted bail as he submitted the proof before the court in this regard.
Tawhid said there is now no legal bar for Ishraque to walk out of jail.
Earlier on April 6, police arrested Ishraque Hossain, while he along with Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leaders was distributing leaflets highlighting the Awami League government’s failure in controlling the prices of daily essentials and against its alleged corruption.
Police said they arrested Ishraque, son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, as an arrest warrant was pending against him in a case filed over setting a car on fire near the Bangladesh Bank building in the capital in 2020.
Ishraque was BNP’s mayoral candidate in the last Dhaka South City Corporation elections.
An FIR was lodged against 42 people in connection with vandalising and torching a vehicle on November 12, 2020. Ishraque was made an accused in the case.
Also read: BNP leader Ishraque Hossain held in Dhaka
On November 18, 2020, the BNP leader secured bail from the High Court in the case.
On January 5, 2021, he surrendered before a lower court after completion of his bail period, granted by the High Court and sought bail again in the case.
On August 18, 2021, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of Ishraque after rejecting his bail petition in the case.
Pahela Baishakh celebrations must end by 2 pm: DMP Commissioner
This year, the programmes for celebrating Pahela Baishakh must end by 2 pm and setting up of food stalls will not be allowed at Ramna fair premises due to Ramadan.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said these on Tuesday at a press briefing after overseeing the security arrangements at the city’s Ramna Batamul ahead of Bengali New Year.
Also read: Raushon, GM Quader greet PM on Pahela Baishakh
He said, “After remaining suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional festival welcoming the Bengali New Year will be celebrated this year on a limited scale. Due to Ramadan New Year celebration will be a little bit different this year as no food stall including that of ‘Panta Bhat’ will be permitted.”
He said Chhayanaut was asked to end the celebration progammes by 11 am and the concerned authorities were asked to wind up fair at Ramna by 2 pm so that people can easily have their Iftar after getting out from here. From 1 pm all the entrances of the fair area will be closed.
The DMP Commissioner said to attend Mangal Shobhajatra, people will have to undergo checking and the members of law enforcement agencies will ensure no one joins the procession halfway.
HC rejects bail to 'Golden Monir' in money laundering case
The High Court on Monday rejected bail appeal of vehicle and gold trader Monir Hossain alias Golden Monir in a money laundering case.
A division bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order dismissing a rule issued in this regard.
The court also directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police to submit the investigation report of the case within three months.
Lawyer Kamrul Islam appeared for Monir during the hearing while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
DAG Amin Uddin Manik said the court issued a rule on the bail on December 15, last year.
The investigation officer in the case CID Inspector Mohammad Sadek appeared before court on Monday and said it will take three more months to submit a report as there are many asset documents that need to be collected in this case.
READ: Court frames charges against Golden Monir in arms case
On November 20, 2020, RAB surrounded Monir's house in the capital's Badda. During the eight-hour operation, almost 7 Kg gold jewelry, foreign pistols, liquor, huge amounts of foriegn currency from 10 countries and Tk 1.9 crore cash were seized from the house.
Last year on December 10, Golden Monir was sent to jail after being remanded for 27 days in three separate cases under the arms, special powers and narcotics laws.
On May 11, last year, CID Inspector Md Ibrahim Hossain filed a case with Banani police station against 10 people including Monir for money laundering.
The complaint said CID has information about Tk 791 crore in assets belonging to Monir.
Breaching copyright law by Banglalink: Hearing on charge framing in 2 cases on May 26
A Dhaka court on Monday fixed May 26 for hearing on charge framing in two cases filed country’s rock icon James and band Miles against private mobile service operator Banglalink for breaching the copyright law.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge KM Imrul Kayes passed the order following defendant’s lawyer’s petition to defer the hearing.
The accused in the cases are- Erik Aas, chief executive officer of Banglalink Digital Communication ltd, Nurul Alam, chief digital officer Sanjay Vaghasia, its chief compliance officer, Taimur Rahman, chief corporate regulatory affairs officer and Anik dhar, head of VAS.
Also read:4 Banglalink officials get bail in case filed by James
Earlier on November 10, last year, Faruq Mahfuz Anam alias James appeared before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate KM Emrul Kayesh and lodged the complaint against mobile operator Banglalink under section 71/82/91 over copyright issue.
Besides, Hamin Ahmed and Manam Ahmed of Miles band lodged another complaint with the same court against Banglalink over the copyright issue.
After the recording of James’ statement, the Magistrate asked five officials of Banglalink to appear before his court on November 30 and explain their role.
Mizanur Rahman Mamun, lawyer of James and Miles band, said Banglalink has been using six songs of James along with “Nila Tumi”,”Firiye Dao” by Miles as welcome tune, ring tone, caller tune and in advertisement for the last 14 years without their permission from 2007-2021, violating the copyright law.
Also read: James sues Banglalink for “breaching” copyright law
The operator was asked verbally first and later was sent legal notice to remove those songs.
They were also sent notice through three ministries but as they did not remove them the plaintiff’s appeared before court for justice failing to lodge a complaint with police, said Mizanur Rahman Mamun.
Samrat gets bail in drugs case, but cannot walk out of jail
A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Dhaka 7th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Tehsin Iftekhar passed the order after Samrat’s counsel Ehsanul Haque Shomaji appealed for his bail.
Also read:Expelled Jubo League leader Samrat gets bail in arms and money laundering cases
On Sunday, Samrat secured bail in an arms case and a money laundering case filed against him.
However, Samrat will not be able to walk out of jail as he is yet to get bail in a graft case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said Samrat’s counsel.
Samrat has been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital since November 24 last year.
On October 6 in 2019, Rab arrested Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla.
Rab later raided his Kakrail office on that day. Huge quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and two hides of kangaroo were seized from his office.
He was later sentenced by a mobile court to six months in prison under the Wildlife Conservation Act and was sent to jail the same day.
On October 7, Abdul Khaleque, Deputy Assistant Director of Rab-1 filed two cases against Samrat at Ramna police station under the Arms and the Narcotics Act. Arman was also made accused in the narcotic case.
On November 4, Shekhar Chandra Mallik, Sub Inspector of Rab-1 submitted a charge sheet against Samrat in the arms case.
Also read: Court accepts charges against expelled Jubo League leader Samrat
On November 12, ACC filed a case against him for acquiring assets worth Tk 2.94 crore beyond his known sources of income.
On September 12, 2020, Rashedur Rahman, Sub-Inspector of CID filed a case against him at Ramna police station for laundering Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore.
Lastly, on November 26 last year, the investigation officer of the case, Jahangir Alam, submitted a charge sheet before the court.
The 100-crore heist: Writ seeks judicial inquiry into illegal transfer of govt hospital nurses
A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Sunday seeking judicial inquiry into the transfer of nurses working in various government hospitals in the country.
Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab, Barrister Mohammad Kawsar and Barrister Mohammad Majeedul Quader, on behalf of ‘Law and Life Foundation’, filed the writ petition.
It is likely to be presented before the HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Khizir Hayat in this week, said Barrister Humayun Kabir.
Also read: HC orders probe into allegations against E-orange
At the same time, the writ petition sought appropriate legal action against the culprits and refund of Tk 100 crore transacted in the transfers by forming a judicial inquiry committee headed by a retired High Court judge.
Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Director General of the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, the accused in the syndicate concerned Md Jamal Uddin and the Governor of Bangladesh Bank were made respondents in the writ petition.
According to the writ, about four thousand nurses were transferred in the three months of September, October and November last year and it has been alleged that a syndicate has embezzled around Tk 100 crore through that transfer business.
The writ also included a report published in a daily on February 7 where it is stated that a specific syndicate is conducting the nurse transfer business.
Also read: HC questions temporary dismissal of govt employee accused in criminal case
A man named Jamal Uddin from Kushtia allegedly formed the syndicate by introducing himself as a relative of a high-ranking official of the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, reads the report.
Tk 100 crore from the transfer trade was deposited in the accounts of him and his relatives from different districts.
Expelled Jubo League leader Samrat gets bail in arms and money laundering cases
Expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat secured bail in an arms case and a money laundering case filed against him at the capital’s Ramna police station on Sunday.
Dhaka Metropolitan Special Tribunal-2 Judge Faysal Atik Bin Kader passed the order in the arms case and Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain passed the order in the money laundering case during hearings.
Samrat was produced in court for hearing on a remand appeal in the money laundering case on Sunday from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital.
Also read: Court accepts charges against expelled Jubo League leader Samrat
On March 24, 2021, Mehedi Maksud, inspector of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police and investigation officer in the case appealed for three days in remand to interrogate Samrat in this case.
After that, the remand hearing was deferred several times as court activities were suspended during Covid-19 induced lockdown and Samrat was admitted to hospital for illness.
Advocate Ehsanul Haque Shomaji appeared for the accused while Public Prosecutor Azad Rahman opposed him representing the state during the hearing.
Advocate Ehsanul Haque Shomaji said, “Samrat got bail in two cases but there are two more cases filed against him. He can step out of jail after securing bail in narcotic and graft case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)”
On October 6 in 2019, Rab arrested Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla.
Also read: Court sets Jan 10 for framing charges against Samrat in graft case
Rab later raided his Kakrail office on that day. Huge quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and two hides of kangaroo were seized from his office.
He was later sentenced by a mobile court to six months in prison under the Wildlife Conservation Act and was sent to jail the same day.
On October 7, Abdul Khaleque, Deputy Assistant Director of Rab-1 filed two cases against Samrat at Ramna police station under arms and narcotic act. Arman was also made accused in the narcotic case.
On November 4, Shekhar Chandra Mallik, Sub Inspector of Rab-1 submitted a charge sheet against Samrat in the arms case.
On November 12, ACC filed a case against him for acquiring assets worth Tk 2.94 crore beyond his known sources of income.
Lastly, on September 12, 2020, Rashedur Rahman, Sub-Inspector of CID filed a case against him at Ramna police station for laundering Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore.
4 to die for murder in Rajshahi
A Rajshahi court on Sunday sentenced four people to death for killing a man in 2021.
Judge Anup Kumar of the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal pronounced the judgment.
Also read:2 to die for 2017 underworld murder in Khulna
The convicts are Badal Mandal, 46, of Shampur Paschimpara village in Niamatpur upazila of Naogaon, Bimal Singh, 50, of Enayetpur Chorkhair village in Tanore upazila, his wife Anjali Rani, 45, and son Subodh Singh, 28.
The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each
According to the case statement, Prakash Singh, 20, son of Nirmal Singh of Enayetpur Chorkhair village and a cleaning staff at a sweetmeat shop in Rajshahi, was found dead near Banshidharpur bridge in Tanore upazila with wound marks.
Father of Nirmal filed a case at Tanore police station in this regard.
Also read:4 to die for killing three-wheeler driver in Khulna
Convict Badal Mandal had an extramarital affair with Anjali Rani.
As Prakash came to know about their secrete relationship he was killed in a planned way.
Money laundering: HC to hear ACC’s appeal against ex-DIG Mizan’s acquittal
The High Court on Sunday accepted for hearing the appeal of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mizanur Rahman’s acquittal of the money laundering charges.
A bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order and summoned the documents of the case.
The two appeals will be heard together with Mizan’s appeal against the sentence in bribery case.
Also read: Bribery case: HC to hear ex-DIG Mizan’s appeal seeking acquittal
Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and Assistant Attorney General Anna Khanam Kali represented the state.
Khurshid said the lower court had acquitted former DIG Mizan of money laundering charges. “Later, we appealed to the High Court seeking punishment in that charge.”
“ACC director Khandaker Enamul Basir was sentenced to five years in prison and fined Tk 80 lakh under the money laundering act. However, Mizanur Rahman was acquitted under this section,” he added.
On April 6, the HC accepted for hearing the appeal of former DIG Mizan’s seeking acquittal in a bribery case.
The court sentenced ACC director Basir to eight years imprisonment with Tk 80 lakh fine and Mizan to three years.
Basir was sentenced to three years jail term for bribery and five-year jail term under money laundering act but he will have to spend five years in prison as the two punishments will be served simultaneously, said the court.
DIG Mizan was an additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). He was withdrawn on January 9, 2019 following the allegation of threatening a female news presenter of a private television channel.
He had also reportedly married a woman forcibly and tortured her. Mizan allegedly abducted the 25-year-old woman in July, 2017 and then forcibly married her.
He had also implicated her in a false case whereby she was arrested and remained in jail for three weeks.
On June 24 in 2019, ACC director Monjur Morshed filed the case against DIG Mizan, his wife Sohelia Anar Ratna, nephew sub-inspector Mahmudul Hasan and younger brother Mahbubur Rahman.
According to the case statement, the ACC found that DIG Mizan concealed information of wealth worth Tk 3.7 crore in his wealth statement.
Then director of ACC Enamul Basir was made the investigation officer in the case.
Also read:Suspended DIG Mizan, ACC director Enamul Basir indicted
During the investigation DIG Mizan accused Basir of claiming Tk 40 lakh as bribe for acquitting him from the charges.
Following the allegation, another ACC director Monjur Morshed was made the investigation officer in the case, withdrawing Basir.
A three-member probe body was formed led by ACC director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah to look into the allegations of bribery.
On July 16, 2019, Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah filed the case over the bribery scandal against Mizan and Basir.
On April 16, 2020, a Dhaka court indicted the two and directed the official beginning of the trial in this case.