Law-&-Order
Ex-SP Babul placed on 5-day remand
A Chattogram court on Wednesday placed former superintendent of police Babul Akter on a five-day remand in a case filed over the killing of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu in 2016.
Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Sarwar Zahan passed the order when police produced him before the court soon after a case was filed against him, said Babul’s counsel Anisul Islam.
Earlier, in the day, a case was filed against eight people including Babul Akter as PBI found Babul’s involvement in the murder.
Mitu’s father Mosharraf Hossain filed the case with Panchlaish Police Station on Wednesday noon, said officer-in-charge of the police station Abul Kashem Bhuiyan.
In the case statement, Mosharraf claimed that Babul killed his wife over extra marital relationship.
Also read: Mitu murder case: Former Chattogram SP Babul Akter detained
The other accused in the case are—Musa, Kalu, Ehteshamul Bhola, Munir, Saidul Islam Shikdar alias Sakku, Shahjahan, Anwar and Wasim.
Musa, who directly took part in the killing as per the directive of Babul , remained absconding.
PBI also found that Babul made phone call and send messages to Musa after the murder of Mitu.
However, PBI submitted the report of the case filed by Babul Akhter before the court.
Already Babul’s two friends Gazi Al Mamun and Saiful Islam made confessional statement before the court under section 164, said PBI source.
Earlier, PBI detained Babul Akter following an investigation that made it clear that he had involvement in his wife's murder.
Also read: Babul among 8 sued in Mitu murder
Santosh Kumar Chakma, the investigating officer of the case, said Babul himself came to the PBI office in Mansurabad on Tuesday afternoon to check the progress of the murder case.
On June 5, 2016, unidentified assailants gunned down Babul's wife Mitu at the port city's GEC intersection while she was going to drop her son Mahir Akhter, 7, for a bus of Chittagong Cantonment Public School and College.
Soon after the crime, Babul had filed a murder case with Panchlaish Police Station against three unidentified men.
Later, police arrested four people, including Abu Nasur Gunu, Shah Zaman alias Robin, Md Anwar and Md Motaleb Mia alias Wasim, from different places in connection with the murder.
Of them, Anwar and Wasim made confessional statements before a magistrate, implicating seven people, including Musa who directly took part in the killing, Mohammad Rashed and Nabi.
Also read: Ex-SP Babul Akter finally held over 2016 murder of wife Mitu
During the course of the probe, police had also arrested "arms supplier" Ehteshamul Haque Bhola and his assistant Md Monir and seized a pistol from their possession.
Police had also arrested Musa's elder brother Saidul Shikder Shakur and Shahjahan for providing the motorbike that was used in the murder. But on July 4, 2016, Nabi and Rashed were killed in a gunfight with police in Rangunia.
The case was transferred to the PBI in 2019, after Mitu's father, himself a retired police officer, filed a complaint against the CMP's mishandling of the case.
Mitu's father had, in fact, accused Babul of being directly involved in the murder case. "He (Babul) should be implicated in the murder case... if he's not, we'll go to the court,” he said.
Stop tree cutting at Suhrawardy Udyan till May 20: HC
The High Court on Tuesday (May 11, 2021) issued a verbal order to halt cutting trees at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan till May 20.
Justice Mamunur Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman’s virtual bench gave the order while hearing a contempt of court petition against Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and three government officials.
The court directed Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to notify the authorities concerned and fixed May 20 for the next hearing on tree felling at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Also read: No tree to be felled unnecessarily at Suhrawardy Udyan: Project Director
Advocate Manzil Murshid filed the contempt petition on May 9, three days after serving a legal notice to the respondents.
The notice was sent to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Chief Engineer of Public Work Division Shamim Akhtar and Chief Architect of Bangladesh Mir Manjur Rahman.
Also read: The fight to save Dhaka's 'oxygen bank'
On May 6, another legal notice was sent to the authorities concerned to stop cutting trees by six different organisations and an individual.
The notice was sent to Dhaka South City Corporation, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Local Government Division, RAJUK, Department of Environment and Department of Public Works.
Also read: 'Project rolled out to make March 7 venue a wonder to behold'
A writ petition was filed in this regard on May 9, as the authorities didn’t respond to this notice either.
The petitioners were - Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Association for Land Reforms and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and architect Mobassher Hossain.
Writ petition filed against tree cutting at Suhrawardy Udyan
A writ petition was filed at the High Court on Sunday to stop tree cutting at historical Suhrawardy Udyan in the pretext of beautification.
On behalf of six organisations and an individual, advocate Minhajul Haque Chowdhury submitted the writ petition.
The petitioners are - Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Association for Land Reforms and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and architect Mobassher Hossain.
Also read: The fight to save Dhaka's 'oxygen bank'
Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Monirujjaman’s bench may hold a hearing on the writ petition on May 19.
On May 6, a legal notice was sent to the authorities concerned to stop cutting the trees.
The notice was sent to Dhaka South City Corporation, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Local Government Division, RAJUK, Department of Environment and Department of Publik Works.
Also read: No tree to be felled unnecessarily at Suhrawardy Udyan: Project Director
A writ petition was filed today as the respondents did not respond to the notice.
Petition against government officials
Lawyer Manzil Murshid has filed a writ petition for issuing a contempt of court rule against three government officials, including a secretary for cutting trees in Suhrawardy Udyan, in violation of the 2009 HC directives.
He said, “Following a writ petition on July 7, 2009, the HC directed the government to identify and preserve all the important historic places related to the Liberation War.”
Also read: 'Project rolled out to make March 7 venue a wonder to behold'
The court also ordered to set up memorial monuments of international standard at the historic places at Suhrawardy Udyan, removing all other establishments excluding the one related to the Liberation War, he said.
“In complete violation of the court order, many trees had already been cut down at Suhrawardy Udyan for establishing restaurants and satisfy business interest,” said Murshid.
Pay Tk 5 lakh each to families of Banshkhali shooting victims: HC
The High court on Tuesday ordered the S Alam Group to pay Tk 5 lakh each to families of the seven men killed in police firing in Chattogram’s Banshkhali on April 17.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir’s bench also issued a rule seeking an explanation why a judicial investigation should not be ordered into the incident.
The order and ruling came after hearing on two writ petitions.
Five workers were killed and over 30 injured as police opened fire on demonstrators demanding payment of dues as well as breaks for prayer/iftar during Ramadan.
Also read: Govt announces compensation for Banshkhali victims
Later, two more workers succumbed to their injuries.
Police and the district administration formed two committees to investigate the incident. The court has ordered them to submit their reports within 45 days.
S Alam group was ordered by the court to submit a report on actions taken for providing treatment and treatment expenses to the victims within 45 days.
The High Court has also asked why Tk 3 crore to each family of the deceased and Tk 2 crore each to injured victims’ families should not be provided.
Also read: 2500 sued over Banshkhali incident
It also asked why the failure to take proper action and ensuring the safety of the victims’ families should not be declared illegal.
Until now two cases have been filed, blaming the workers for the incident. The victims' families have not sought legal recourse yet.
Court orders release of Ctg woman wrongly put behind bars
A Chattogram court on Tuesday ordered the release of Hasina Begum put behind bars wrongly one and a half years back.
Additional Metropolitan Session Court -4 Judge Shariful Alam Bhuiyan passed the order this noon, said bench assistant of the court Omar Fuad.
Hasina Begum, 28, wife of Hamid Hossain of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar district, has been serving the jail term instead of real convict Hasina Akther,42, in a narcotic case as law enforcers arrested her wrongly for the similarity of her name to the convict’s.
The incident came in the limelight on Sunday as defence lawyer Golam Mawla Murad drew the attention of the Judge of Chattogram Additional Metropolitan Session Court -4, Shariful Alam Bhuiyan, following a police investigation.
Defence lawyer Golam Mawla Murad told reporters on Tuesday that they are yet to receive the full verdict of the court.
Earlier in the morning, the jail authorities were asked to submit a report to the court saying Hasina Begum and Hasina Akther are two different persons, and Hasina Begum is not an accused.
Advocate Murad said, “No case was filed against Hasina Begum, now in jail. But she has been languishing in jail for the last one and a half years. Her only offence is the similarity of her name to that of the real accused. Their parents’ names are also different.”
Hasina Begum is the wife of Hamid Hossain of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar district while the real convict, Hasina Akther, is the wife of Hamid Hossain of Ismail Hazi Bari of the same upazila.
According to the court, police recovered 2,000 Yaba pills from Moijjartek in Karnaphuli on February 24, 2017. A case was then filed in this connection.
Later, police arrested Hasina Akhter on February 25, 2017 in this connection. On November 27, Hasina Akhter secured bail from the court and went into hiding.
On July 1, 2019, Judge of Chattogram Metropolitan Court-5 Jannatul Ferdous sentenced six years’ jail to Hasina Akhter and fined Tk 5,000.
On December 26, 2019, police wrongly arrested Hasina Begum from Chowdhurypara Hossain Boro Bari in Teknaf in the case and she has been in jail since then.
Bail, Ad-interim orders extended for 4 weeks: HC
Bail and all High Court ad-interim orders have been extended for the next four weeks, considering the lockdown and ongoing Covid situation.
Registrar general of the Supreme Court Md Ali Akbar issued a notice in this regard on Sunday.
The notice says the four week-extension will be effective on cases the High Court granted bail to the accused for a specific period or granted bail on condition of surrendering to a lower court or declared ad-interim order for a period.
On April 5 and April 18, through two different notices the Supreme Court has extended all ad-interim bails and orders for two weeks, twice.
On April 11, the Supreme Court declared on a notice that, from April 12 all the court and tribunals will be conducted virtually to settle all the bail and emergency criminal applications.
Son kills mother for beating his younger brother in Dhaka
A mother was allegedly killed by her elder son as he repeatedly hit her with a brick in Jatrabari area of the capital.
The deceased has been identified as Parveen Akhter, 45.
While talking to UNB her daughter Jhorna said, "My younger brother, who is 3.5 years old, was crying for food as he was hungry. Rather than providing him food, my mother started beating him up."
"Seeing our younger brother getting beaten up, Sajib Ahmed, our elder brother confronted my mother and they got into an intense argument, " she added.
At one point of the argument, Sajib, 22, snapped and repeatedly started hitting his own mother with a brick, according to Jhorna.
The mother was immediately taken to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College where the on duty doctor declared her dead.
Md Bacchu Mia, police camp in-charge of DMCH, confirmed the death to UNB.
Dhaka court imposes travel ban on Bashundhara MD over abetting suicide
A Dhaka court issued a travel ban on Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir today over his alleged connection with a case filed over abetting suicide of a young girl whose body was recovered from a rented flat in Dhaka's Gulshan area last night.
The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam passed the order after Abul Hassan, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a petition seeking travel ban on the Bashundhara Group MD.
Although it was granted, there were unconfirmed reports circulating Tuesday of Sobhan having left the country already on a cargo flight.
Also read: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
Police recovered the hanging body of a young girl from a flat in the city's Gulshan area on Monday (April 26, 2021) night.
A case was filed by the victim’s sister Nusrat Jahan against Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group over instigating the victim to commit suicide under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station around 1:30 am on Tuesday (April 27, 2021).
According to Nusrat, the victim called her on Sunday, and confided to being "in trouble". On that basis, Nusrat Jahan came to Dhaka on Monday and reached her sister's flat in the evening.
After Musharrat didn't answer the door, she managed to enter the flat with help from the landlord and found her sister's hanging body and police were called in, who recovered it.
Read Palestinian student studying in Bangladesh commits suicide in Gaza
Brahmanbaria mayhem: Hefazat leader among 10 arrested
Police in a drive arrested ten people including a local leader of Hefazat e-Islam from different parts of the district in the past 24 hours till Monday morning.
The arrests were made in connection with the last month's mayhem carried out Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in the district.
Also Read: B'baria mayhem: 7 more Hefazat men held
The arrests were made after identifying the accused from video footage and images taken during the violence, according to the special branch of district police.
Mufti Zakaria Khan, 43, assistant publicity secretary of district unit Hefazat-e-Islam and also the teacher of Brahmanbaria Jamia Yunisia Madrasha was among the arrestee, said police.
During interrogation, Zakaria said he took part in the violence and arson attack directly following the directives of top Hefazat men of the madrasha.
So far, 55 cases have been filed and 369 people arrested in connection the rampage, the police said.
On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat’s demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila. They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.
Also Read: 24 more held over Brahmanbaria mayhem
The next day, during Hefazat’s countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office,
Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
The supporters had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
Mamunul placed on 7-day fresh remand
A Dhaka court on Monday placed Mamunul Haque, former Joint Secretary General of Hefezat-e-Islam, on a seven-day remand in two separate cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel Police stations.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury placed Mamunul on four-day remand in a case filed with Paltan Police Station in 2013 while three-day remand in a case filed with Motijheel Police Station.
Also Read: Mamunul put on 7-day remand in vandalism case
However, police sought 20-day remand in each of the two cases. Inspector Mohammad Maniruzzaman of Paltan Police Station and Inspector Mohammad Quamrul Islam of Motijheel Police Station made the pleas before the court.
Mamunul produced was produced before the court following the completion of his seven-day remand in a vandalism case filed with Mohammadpur police station in 2020.
On April 18, a joint team of Tejgaon Division police and DMP's Detective Branch arrested Mamunul from Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasah in Mohammadpur.
Mamunul, who has been in the limelight due to some recent controversies, was held with a woman he claims to be his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon on April 3.
Later, Hefazat leaders claimed that Mamunul went to the resort with his “second wife” where locals confined and harassed him before calling in the police.
Also Read: 8 jailed in Sylhet for inciting violence over Mamunul's arrest