United News of Bangladesh

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Tuesday fixed July 1 for a hearing on charge framing against three accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case relating to crimes against humanity linked to the July-August uprising. The three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order following a scheduled hearing. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun, already arrested in the case, was produced before the court during the proceedings. Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim appeared on behalf of the state. The tribunal had earlier appointed defence lawyers for the accused. Court orders gazette notice for Hasina, 11 others in Purbachal forgery cases On June 1, the court took the allegations into cognisance and issued arrest warrants for Sheikh Hasina and former Home Affairs Adviser Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both of whom are currently absconding. On the same day, Al Mamun was shown arrested in connection with the case, while the court ordered summons to be issued for Hasina and Kamal to appear on June 16. Since both failed to appear on the scheduled date, the tribunal ordered public notices to be published in two national newspapers and set June 24 for the next hearing. In line with the schedule, Tuesday’s hearing was held and the tribunal issued its latest order.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly pushed 19 more people into Bangladesh through Sylhet border early Tuesday. Those pushed included six men, six women and seven children. Lt Col Mohammad Nazmul Haque, commandant of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)-48 Battalion in Sylhet, said the BSF pushed the people through Jaintapur upazila border around 5am. BSF pushes in 11 through border into Feni On information, the BGB personnel went to the scene and detained them for intrusion, he said, adding that they were later handed over to Jaintapur Police Station later. Despite repeated objections from Bangladesh, the push-ins by the BSF continued along the borders.

A total of eight police officials, including five officers-in-charge (OCs) of several police stations in Brahmanbaria district have been transferred together, citing public interest. The transfer orders were issued in an official notification signed by Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police (SP) Ehteshamul Haque on Sunday night, instructing the officials to join their new posts immediately. According to the order, OCs of Bancharampur, Sarail, Ashuganj, Nasirnagar, and Nabinagar police stations were transferred. Bancharampur OC Morshedul Alam was appointed as OC of Sarail police station, while Nasirnagar OC Md Khairul Alam was posted as OC of Ashuganj. Meanwhile, Sarail OC Md Rafiqul Hasan and Ashuganj OC Mohammad Billal Hossain were transferred to Brahmanbaria Sadar Court as inspectors while Nabinagar OC Abdur Razzak was appointed as an inspector in the District Special Branch (DSB). Rokeya University teacher Mahamud gets bail; OC transferred Moreover, inspector Muhammad Azharul Islam, who was previously posted at the Police Lines, was appointed as OC of Nasirnagar police station. Nasirnagar police station’s Inspector (Investigation) Md Hasan Jamil Khan was made OC of Bancharampur, and Akhaura police station’s Inspector (Investigation) Md Shahinur Islam was appointed as OC of Nabinagar police station. The sudden transfer faced widespread criticism in the district but police sources said that several OCs faced various complaints, while some officers were reassigned based on commendable performance. When asked, SP Ehteshamul Haque told reporters that the reshuffle was carried out based on public interest and the professional competence of the officers.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday said the negative image of the police could be erased if they become more people-friendly personnel. He made the remarks while exchanging views with officials of the Tangail district administration and heads of various departments at a meeting held in the Deputy Commissioner's conference room in the afternoon. About Sunday night’s mob attack, the adviser said, “Those responsible for creating such a situation centring former CEC KM Nurul Huda will be brought to justice. If any member of the police is found to be involved, action will be taken against them as well.” He also said instructions have already been given to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and legal action will be taken against those involved. “Since August 5, actions have been taken to make the police more people-friendly. The police no longer behave the way they used to. If the public is happy with the police, I am also happy. I am making every effort to ensure the people are satisfied,” the adviser said. BNP disowns mob attack on ex-CEC Huda, demands action: Salahuddin Jahangir also mentioned that though the next national election is still some time away, police preparations are underway. “The overall law and order situation in the country is much better than before.” Dhaka Range DIG Rezaul Karim Mallick Reza, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Sharifa Haque and Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman were, among others, present at the meeting.

A Dhaka court on Monday placed former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on a four-day remand in a case over election manipulation. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the investigation officer of the case, said Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court’s Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi. Earlier, he was produced before the court with a plea for a 10-day remand, he said. On Sunday evening, police detained Nurul Huda from his residence in the capital’s Uttara area. The detention came just hours after a case was filed by the BNP at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on Sunday morning, accusing 24 people, including former Chief Election Commissioners, Election Commissioners and other officials involved in conducting the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections, of irregularities and biased conduct. Ex-CEC KM Nurul Huda detained from Uttara residence Earlier on Sunday, a four-member BNP delegation led by National Executive Committee member Salahuddin Khan filed the case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The complaint named 24 people, including former CECs Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda and Kazi Habibul Awal, along with several unidentified persons. BNP alleges that the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections were manipulated and held in a partisan manner, despite repeated calls for a non-partisan caretaker government and the deployment of army personnel with magistracy powers during polling.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday dismissed reports of former Chief Election Commissioner Habibul Awal’s arrest, saying the news circulated on Sunday was incorrect. "The news published yesterday (Sunday) regarding the arrest of former CEC Habibul Awal is not correct, he has not been arrested yet. It is Nurul Huda who has been arrested," he said while talking to reporters after visiting the Horticulture Centre in Mouchak area of Kaliakair upazila in Gazipur on Monday morning. The Home Adviser said mob violence carried out during the detention of ex-CEC KM Nurul Huda is in no way acceptable. “The way mob justice was carried out during his detention is not acceptable. Such chaos took place in the presence of law enforcers. An investigation will be conducted. If any member of the law enforcement agencies is found involved legal action will be taken,” he added. The adviser said the government is working to formulate a law to protect agricultural land from illegal occupation. Govt warns against mob justice, vows action against chaos creators He stressed the importance of increasing the production of local fruits alongside foreign varieties to ensure that native fruits are not lost. Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Nafisa Arefin, Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Jaber Sadeq, Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawsar Ahmed, Horticulture Centre officials including Enamul Haque were, among others, present during the visit. The adviser inspected various areas of the Horticulture Centre, spoke to officials and employees and provided necessary instructions.

Police detained former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda from his residence in the capital’s Uttara area on Sunday evening. The detention came just hours after a case was filed by the BNP at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on Sunday morning, accusing 24  people, including former Chief Election Commissioners, Election Commissioners and other officials involved in conducting the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections, of irregularities and biased conduct. Deputy Commissioner (Uttara Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Hafizur Rahman confirmed the detention, saying that based on secret information, a team from Uttara West Police Station conducted a raid on a house in Uttara Sector-5 around 7:30 pm and detained KM Nurul Huda. "For security reasons, he was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) office on Minto Road shortly after he was detained," the DC said. As Huda is an accused in the case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, he is likely to be shown arrested in connection with that case, he added. Rokeya University teacher Mahamud gets bail; OC transferred Earlier in the day, a four-member BNP delegation led by National Executive Committee member Salahuddin Khan filed the case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The complaint named 24 people, including former CECs Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda and Kazi Habibul Awal, along with several unidentified persons. BNP alleges that the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections were manipulated and held in a partisan manner, despite repeated calls for a non-partisan caretaker government and the deployment of army personnel with magistracy powers during polling. Talking to reporters, Salahuddin Khan said, “Despite widespread complaints during those elections, the then CECs failed to take any corrective measures. We hope the current Election Commission will investigate and take action.” The 10th parliamentary election in January 2014 saw 153 Awami League candidates elected unopposed after the BNP and other opposition parties boycotted the polls. That election was held under the leadership of CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad. Ex-ministers Anisul, Qamrul, 2 others shown arrested in murder cases In the 11th parliamentary election of December 2018, overseen by CEC KM Nurul Huda, the BNP alleged that ballots were stuffed the night before voting. The 12th election in 2024, conducted under CEC Kazi Habibul Awal, was dismissed by the BNP as a “dummy election,” as the party chose not to participate. Earlier this month, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus directed the authorities to form a committee to investigate the roles of those involved in conducting the three controversial elections.

A Rangpur court on Sunday granted bail to Begum Rokeya University teacher Mahamudul Haque who was arrested in a murder case filed over the death of a grocer during the anti-discrimination student movement last year. Judge Mosammat Marzia Khatun of Rangpur Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the bail order after a hearing in the afternoon. Advocate Shamim Al Mamun, counsel for Mahamudul Haque, said, “The plaintiff in the case did not even know that Mahamud had been named as an accused. He doesn't even recognise him.” Advocate Mamun said they first sought bail from the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court which heard their statement but deferred the hearing to June 24. "Then, in our pursuit of justice, we appealed to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, which granted the bail," he said. Prior to the bail hearing, a group of the university students gathered on the court premises, staged demonstrations demanding Mahamudul’s bail and exemption from what they termed a ‘conspiratorial’ case. Meanwhile, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hajirhat Police Station Abdul Al Mamun Shah, also the investigating officer of the case, was transferred. Earlier on June 19, police arrested Mahamudul Haque, an assistant professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the Begum Rokeya University, in connection with the case filed over the death of grocer Somes Uddin. Former state minister for planning Shamsul Alam arrested in Dhaka According to the case statement, on August 2, last year, police and Awami League activists threatened Somes at his shop in Radhakrishnapur area under Ward 12 of Rangpur city. He was injured in an attack by the activists of AL associate bodies. His family took him to Prime Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Ten months after the incident, Somes Uddin’s wife Amena Begum filed a case with Hajirhat Police Station on June 3 accusing 54 people, including ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and minister Obaidul Quader. Mahamudul Haque was listed as the 54th accused and described as the Central Assistant Secretary for Information and Research of the Bangabandhu Parishad. Amena Begum and her son Ashiqur Rahman reportedly admitted that they filed the case under pressure from law enforcers and had no knowledge of who was named as accused. They said they only gave their signatures on papers.

A total of 251 people, including former MPs Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury and NizamUddin Hazari, have been sued in a case over last year’s July uprising. Jamshedur Alam, a resident from Samaspur village under Dagonbhuiyan upazila of the district, filed the case naming 151 people and 50 to 100 unnamed others with Feni Model Police Station on Friday last, said officer-in-charge Md Shamsuzzaman. The rest of the accused mentioned in the case include former Chairman of Feni Sadar Upazila Parishad and General Secretary of Awami League Shushen Chandra Shil, General Secretary of Feni Municipal Awami League and former Mayor Nazrul Islam Swapan Miazi, and President of District Juba League and Chairman of Dagunbhuiyan Upazila Didarul Kabir.  Five Feni villages innundated after collapse of flood embankments amid heavy rain According to the case statement, the accused assaulted the victim when he had joined an anti-discrimination movement under Mohipal Flyover on August 4 last. The accused left him behind assuming to be dead while locals rushed him to Feni Sadar Hospital where he received the treatment. The statement says he delayed filing the case due to health issues and his busy schedule. OC Shamsuzzaman said efforts were underway to arrest the accused.

Former ministers Anisul Huq and Qamrul Islam, former adviser Salman F Rahman and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were shown arrested in three murder cases in Gazipur on Sunday. Judge of Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court Omar Faruk passed the order after hearing separate petitions, said court inspector Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury. Ex-Ministers Anisul, Mosharraf, another remanded in 2 cases Earlier, the four were brought in from Dhaka Central Prison amid the tight security and produced before the court in the cases filed with Gacha Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police. All the four were named in the cases involving last year’s July uprising.