law-order
Cop withdrawn after misbehavior with journalist while covering BNP MPs’ resignation
Police constable Md Shahinur Rahman has been withdrawn from duty for his misbehavior with a television reporter while covering the resignation of the Members of Parliament (MPs) of BNP in Parliament area on Sunday.
He has been attached to police lines and departmental action will be taken against him, said deputy commissioner (Media) of DMP Faruq Hossain on Monday.
Read more: 5 BNP MPs’ resignation: Election to vacant seats within 90 days, EC says
Sayed Arman, journalist of Nagorik TV and a member of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), was broadcasting live the resignation of BNP’s Members of Parliament (MPs) in from of the parliament when constable Md Shahinur Rahman took away the journalist's boom (microphone) and obstructed him during performing his duties.
Read more: 5 BNP MPs submit resignation to JS Speaker
In a statement on Sunday, DRU President Mursalin Nomani and General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel condemned the incident on behalf of the DRU Executive Committee.
The DRU leaders demanded the authorities to investigate the matter and take action against the cop. They called upon the police authority to cooperate with journalists while they perform their duties.
24 eminent citizens condemn police surveillance on political activities
Some 24 prominent citizens of the country have termed police surveillance on political activities, including frisking and checking mobile phones of citizens to suppress the opposition political parties as anti-democratic and violation of human rights.
Read: Fakhrul, Abbas sent to jail ahead of BNP’s Dhaka rally
They strongly condemned such police activities in a joint statement issued on Sunday.
In the statement, they said "the right to assembly is our constitutional fundamental right. We urge the government to abstain from violating these fundamental rights. We also demand the government to refrain from repression and torture against the leaders and activities of the opposition parties."
They also condemned the arrest of BNP leaders and activists.
Read: BNP’s Nayapaltan office reopens after 4 days of police raid
The signatories are-- former adviser of the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, human rights activist Hameeda Hossain, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Zafrullah Chowdhury, former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder, SUJON secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, professors Anu Muhammad, Rehnuma Ahmed, lawyer Salma Ali, photographer Shahidul Alam, human rights activists Noor Khan Liton, Shirin Haque, Sharmin Murshid, Supreme Court lawyer Shahdeen Malik, Subrata Chowdhury, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Dhaka University's professor Asif Nazrul, Jahangirnagar University professors Mirza Taslima Sultana and Nasreen Khandkar, Chittagong University professor Maidul Islam, Naser Bakhtear, researchers Veena D'Costa, Saydia Gulrukh, Hana Sams Ahmed, and Rozina Begum.
RAB informant stabbed in S Keraniganj dies at DMCH
A 30-year-old man, who was stabbed by unknown assailants eight days earlier, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital on Sunday.
Md Amin Hossain Asif, son of late Ali Ershad of Chandina upazila in Cumilla, used to work as an informant for RAB and police.
His brother Rafiqul Islam said unidentified assailants stabbed Asif near the Army Camp in South Keraniganj around 9pm on December 3, leaving him critically injured.
Read more: Teen stabbed dead in Bagerhat
On information, the family members rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he had been undergoing treatment.
But Asif succumbed to his injuries around 10pm on Sunday, the brother said.
Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police camp, said the body was sent to the hospital’s morgue for postmortem.
Read more: Patuakhali HSC examinee stabbed in front of test centre
Fakhrul, Abbas, 5 other BNP leaders seek bail, hearing tomorrow
A Dhaka court on Sunday fixed December 12 (Monday) for the hearing of the bail petitions of seven top BNP leaders including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan.
Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury passed the order when their counsel sought bail.
Read: 5 BNP MPs submit resignation to JS Speaker
The remaining five who sought bail are BNP’s Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, joint secretary Khairul Kabir Khokon, former organizing secretary Fazlul Haque Milon and party leader Selim Reza Habib.
On Friday, a Dhaka court sent Mirza Fakhrul and Abbas to jail rejecting their bail petitions in the case.
In the early hours of Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Later they were shown arrested in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash.
Read: BNP 'half-defeated' through holding rally at Golapbagh: Obaidul Quader
They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police, crude bomb explosion, destroying public property and lives, he added.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
On Thursday, a Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists including Annie and Salam to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s violence.
BNP’s divisional rally: Heightened security in and around Dhaka
Law enforcers have tightened security in and around the capital to maintain law and order and prevent possible chaos centering the BNP rally.
Police have set up check posts at all entry points of Dhaka. Some 32,000 police have been deployed in the city.
Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Hafiz Akter, said, “A huge number of law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the city. Alongside, tight security is being ensured at key installations. Police have strengthened their surveillance so that no one can create any chaos. Hope the BNP rally will be held peacefully.”
Read more: With few public transport on roads, Dhaka wears a deserted look
Alongside police and Rab, Ansar members have also been deployed in different parts of the city to avert any untoward incident. A total of 4,000 Ansar members have been deployed in the capital ahead of BNP's rally, said Md Kamrul Islam, director (Operations) of Ansar VDP.
Alongside, law enforcement agencies, activists of Awami Lague, Jubo League and Chhatra League were also seen taking position on city streets to prevent what they said to prevent any sabotage activities by BNP men.
BNP supporters were seen heading towards the rally venue on foot as public transport remained off the streets from this morning.
Most of shops across the city were also found closed.
To strengthen security, a helicopter of Rapid Action Battalion is seen patrolling over the Golapbagh ground in the capital.
Read more: 4,000 Ansar deployed in capital ahead of BNP rally
Defying all obstacles, the BNP leaders and activists thronged the Gopalbagh rally vanue.
Asma Begum, an activist of Mohila Dal, who came from Dakkhin Keraniganj, said she along with 50 female supporters started their journey to join the rally after Fazr prayers on foot and reached the venue around 10 am.
She also claimed that they have been obstructed by police and Awami League supporters in different parts of the city.
Six ambulances were kept ready at rally venue for use of any emergency.
No public transport was seen plying the roads since morning and only some CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen.
Though there is no transport strike in force, owners were not allowing their transport to move about the road.
A few inter-city buses were seen on the road, but they were few and far between.
Fakhrul, Abbas being questioned, not arrested: DB Chief
The Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Harun Or Rashid on Friday said the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas who were picked up from their house in the early hours are being questioned.
“They have not been arrested. They were brought to the DB office for questioning on some issues,” he told the media at the capital's Minto road.
“They are still at DB office premises. Our next step in this regard will be informed after the questioning”, he said.
“We can question them if we feel it’s necessary. The situation that arose two days ago when at least 50 to 60 police members were hurt and we are questioning them about the overall issues,” said the DB Chief replying to a question.
“In Yesterday’s discussion, BNP proposed Kamalapur Stadium for December 10 rally venue but we suggested Bangla College Field as there is synthetic grass laid in the stadium for the cricket match which will get destroyed,” he said replying to another question.
Read more: BNP to hold its Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan
Police have decided on approving Bangla College Field. But some of the BNP leaders are now talking about Golapbagh field which was not discussed at the meeting,” added DB Chief Harun.
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
BNP’s Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said that a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police went to Fakhrul’s Uttara house at the dead of night and picked him up around 3:00 am.
He said another team of the DB police raided the house of Abbas at the same time and picked him up from his Shahjahanpur home in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain condemned the detention of the two top party leaders and said their party’s decision about Saturday’s rally will be announced after a virtual meeting of the standing committee that was supposed to begin at 11:30am.
Talking to reporters on Friday morning, Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum said four DB police members came to the upstairs of their house around 3am while som others were staying downstairs.
“I asked them the reason behind their arrival here at the dead of night. They said they came here to take him (Fakhrul) away as per the directives of the higher authorities,” she said.
Rahat Ara said as she asked them whether they had any warrant for his arrest, the law enforcers said he was accused in two or three fresh cases that were filed yesterday.
“I was asleep when Abbas woke me up and said they (DB members) were going to take me with them and I couldn’t believe it at first,” said Mirza Abbas’s wife Afroza Abbas.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
They said they will return him after discussion with him, she said.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening BNP office at Nayapaltan.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
On Thursday, a Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s violence.
Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie were among the top leaders who were sent to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail
A Dhaka court on Thursday sent 445 BNP leaders and activists to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s clash with police that left one person dead and 50 injured.
Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie were among the top leaders who were sent to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Meanwhile, the court granted bail to BNP’s Dhaka North Convener Aman Ullah Aman and National Executive Committee member Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain passed the order after police produced the them before court on Thursday and sought remand for seven days to interrogate them.
Read more: Nayapaltan clash: Over 3000 BNP activists, others sued
Besides, the court placed 23 BNP leaders and activists on a two-day remand.
BNP’s Co-Climate Secretary Mostafizur Rahman Babul, Co-Organizational Secretary Seluzzaman Selim, BNP Dhaka district President Khondokar Abu Ashfaq, BNP leaders Shahjahan, AKM Aminul Islam, Wakil Ahmed , Sajeen Bhuiyan, Sarwar Hossain Sheikh, Saidul Iqbal Mahmud, Mizanur Rahman, Al Amin, Saiful, Shuvo Farazi and Mahmud Hossain Rony, are among the people remanded.
No rally to be allowed on streets: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said BNP will not be allowed to hold their rally at Nayapaltan on December 10 and the government is thinking about Kalshi field as an alternative venue.
“No anarchy will be allowed in the name of rally and no rally will be allowed on streets,” the minister told reporters after visiting the police members who sustained injuries during Wednesday’s clash at city’s Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital.
Replying to a question he said Kalshi field is being considered as alternative venue and BNP will receive full assistance from police in this regard.
Read more: BNP executed its plan at Nayapaltan yesterday: Quader
“There is no objection if you (BNP) hold peaceful meetings, rallies but if you vandalise, harm life and assets the law enforcers will not sit idle. It is their job to give people protection,” he added.
Regarding the police drive at Nayapaltan yesterday, the home minister said that the operation was conducted considering the situation.
Read more: Man in Argentina jersey during BNP-police clash in Nayapaltan identified as Ansar member
“Police recovered 15 unexploded hand grenades, rice, pulse and firewood from BNP office. We don’t understand why should rice, pulse, firewood should be brought for a political rally,” he said.
“I’ve heard BNP had prepared to take position for an indefinite period in Nayapaltan area. They have no more plan to hold a rally,” he added.
Man in Argentina jersey during BNP-police clash in Nayapaltan identified as Ansar member
A man — in an Argentina football team jersey — who was seen shooting at BNP activists during a clash with police on Wednesday has been identified as a Bangladesh Ansar member.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch Chief Mohammad Harun Ur Rashid confirmed the information to UNB today.
He said, “The Ansar member was on duty under the Paltan model police station that day.”
When asked whether any action will be taken against the Ansar member for not maintaining dress code, he said, “Why should we take action? Even I perform duty in civil clothing. When putting our lives at risk, law enforcement officers can wear any type of clothing.”
read more: It’s an unjustified action of police: Fakhrul on Nayapalton clash
Meanwhile, police filed three cases at Shahjahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan police stations against 553 BNP activists and over 2400 unnamed people in connection with Wednesday’s clash with BNP that left one person dead and many injured.
So far 500 people have been arrested in this regard.
The accused were alleged of keeping explosives at the BNP party office, attacking police and sabotage.
After the clash, 473 BNP leaders and activists were arrested from the party’s central office and surrounding areas who were named in this case.
Read more: 1 killed in police-BNP clash at Nayapaltan; Over 150 leaders, activists held
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday claimed that two leaders of their party’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were killed and over 100 others were injured in an attack by police when bullets were fired in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office.
The detained leaders included BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie.
Appellate Division gets 3 more judges
Three judges of the High Court have been appointed as judges to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday, raising the number of total judges in the Appellate Division to nine.
The newly appointed judges are Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Justice Md Jahangir Hossain.
Read more: 3 new Appellate Division Judges take oath
The Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Thursday after President Abdul Hamid appointed them.
The appointment of the judges will come into effect once they take oath.
Currently, there are six judges in the Appellate Division, and Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique administered their oath at 4:00 pm on Thursday.