law-order
Marine engineer found dead in city’s Dhanmondi
A 51-year-old man was found dead in the city’s Dhanmondi area early Sunday.
The deceased was identified Shahadat Hossain Majumdar. He used to work as chief engineer in a foreign ship.
Police recovered the body from Dhanmondi lake area around 2:30 am, said Ekram Ali, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dhanmondi police station.
He went out for an evening walk in the lake area on Saturday and didn’t return home.
The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) morgue for autopsy, said the hospital’s outpost in-charge inspector Bacchu Mia.
Four stab injury marks were found on his body, he said.
Khandker Golam Faruq made new DMP commissioner
The government has appointed Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Khandker Golam Faruq as the new commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
A gazette notification was issued in this regard by the Home Ministry's Public Security Division on Sunday.
Read:3 DCs of DMP given new postings
The appointment of Golam Faruq will be effective from October 29 as incumbent DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam will go on retirement on the same day.
The tenure of DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam was extended for another year in 2021. On September 13, 2019 he took the responsibility as 34th Commissioner of DMP.
Suspended DIG Bazlur Rashid gets five-year jail in graft case
A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons Bazlur Rashid to five years imprisonment for illegally amassing wealth worth Tk 3.14 crore.
Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5 Jude Md Iqbal Hossain also fined the convict Tk 5 lakh, in default, to suffer six months more in jail.
Read: Why ex-DIG prison Bazlur Rashid’s bail won’t be scrapped: HC
The court also cancelled his bail and sent him to jail.
The court on Saturday fixed Sunday for delivering the judgment after completing arguments from the both sides.
Read:Court orders freezing two bank accounts of suspended DIG prison Bazlur
The ACC summoned the suspended DIG and his wife for interrogation on October 20 in 20019 and showed him arrested on the same day after filing a case against him on charge of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 3.14 crore.
ACC Deputy Director Md Nasir Uddin pressed chargesheet against the ex-DIG on August 26, 2020. The court framed chagres against Bazlur Rashid on October 22.
Mother, son injured in Chapainawabganj crude bomb blast
A woman and her son sustained injuries as a crude bomb exploded in a house in Sadar upazila of Chapainawabganj district on Saturday night.
Besides, valuables of the house were also damaged in the explosion.
The injured were identified as Fahmina Begum, 55, and Shahidul Islam Shaheed, 42, residents of Zianagar area in Sadar upazila.
Ajema Begum, step-mother of Shaheed, said they heard a big bang in their house around 8.45 pm.
Later, locals rescued them from the house and rushed to Sadar Hospital and later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment, she said.
Read: 3 siblings killed in Feni septic tank blast
AKM Alamgir Jahan, officer-in-charge of Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station, said on information they went to the spot and collected samples from the spot.
A case was filed against Shaheed under the Explosives Substances Act.
“We are investigating the matter and legal action will be taken following investigation,” he added.
Ansar Al Islam militant arrested from N’ganj
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested a member of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam on Friday from Fatullah in Narayanganj.
The arrestee was identified as Ali Sayfi, 24, son of Ali Ashraf from the Talla Ajmeri Bagh area falling under Fatullah model police station, said police.
He was arrested from a mosque in the Talla Ajmeribagh area on Friday noon during a drive conducted by Rab-3. However, two other members of Ansar Al Islam - Maruf Taki, 26, and Mohibulla, 28, managed to flee, said Rab.
Read: Rab intensifies anti-militancy drive in CHT, 10 arrested
Rab-3 handed over the arrestee to police on Friday night and filed a case in this regard at Fatullah model police station, said Kazi Masud Rana, inspector and investigation officer in the case.
According to the case complaint, Sayfi got information about extremist organization Al Qaeda from the internet in 2018. Later he started spreading extremist ideology along with Taki and Mohibullah from the Misbahul Ummah Hifz Madrasah in Ajmeribagh, as an Ansar Al Islam member.
During the arrest Rab recovered an Android phone, SIM cards, pen drive and extremist literature he used to promote extremist ideologies, said the inspector.
Sayfi was produced before a court with a seven day remand prayer on Saturday but a hearing on this regard will be held on Sunday, he said.
‘Some abuses are reported while implementing any new law’
Law Minister Anisul Huq has said the government remains vigilant to stop any misuse or abuse of the Digital Security Act (DSA), noting that some abuses are reported while implementing any new law in any country in the world.
The issue of amendment to the law comes when there are abuses and the government is trying to plug in the places where there is scope of abuse and misuse, he said.
"If there is a necessity for any amendment, we will do that," said the Law Minister.
He, however, said bringing amendments to any law is a lengthy process and the government may go for shortening the process by introducing relevant rules.
The Law Minister was speaking at a debate on DSA, moderated by Editors Guild President and Editor-in-Chief of Ekattor Television Mozammel Babu on Saturday.
Minister Huq said a perception regarding the DSA has been created and the government is aware of it.
He said the government is listening to all and trying to address the issues. “We are trying to solve the problem. Our ears are not closed.”
After identifying certain cases of misuse and abuse through the DSA in 2019, the Law Minister said he tried to find out other countries where such laws exist and also contacted the Office of the UN Human Rights Commission.
"We are still discussing the good practices,” he said, adding that he even sat with the Home Minister and decided that the journalists will not be arrested right away.
The Law Minister said when a complaint is lodged, a cell will decide whether or not there is prima facie proof that an offence has been made under the law.
The Law Minister referred to the law regarding punishment for making any kind of propaganda or campaign against liberation war, spirit of Liberation War, Father of the Nation, national anthem or national flag.
“Was it necessary to protect? Yes, it was necessary,” he said, adding that it hurts him when someone says 30 lakh people did not sacrifice their lives during the Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971.
“It (such distortion of settled history) does not just bring tears in my eyes, it seems to me that someone hit on my chest,” he added.
The Law Minister also questioned those who made room for war criminals like Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid in the cabinet.
Human rights activist advocate ZI Khan Panna, cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu, Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia and Bangladesh Faruq Faisel, filmmaker Kamar Ahmad Simon, Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hassan and journalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza, among others, spoke at the discussion.
Anti-militancy drive in CHT: 10 arrestees sent to jail
A court in Rangamati has sent seven members of newly launched militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) to jail in a case filed with Belaichhari police station in the district.
Rangamati Judicial Magistrate Farzana Akter passed the order around 7:30pm on Friday after police produced them before court without any remand plea, said Asaduzzaman, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Court Police.
There may be an appeal for remand when they are produced again in the court after a few days, he added.
On Thursday, the RAB arrested 10 people including militants and separatists raiding various areas in Bandarban and Rangamati districts.
The arrestees were identified as: Sayed Maruf Ahmed alias Manik, 31, of Sunamganj, Imran Hossain alias Shaon, 31, of Pirojpur, Kawsar alias Shishir, 46, of Jhenaidah, Jahangir Ahmed alias Jonu, 27, of Sylhet, Md Ibrahim Ali, 19, of Barishal, Abu Bakar Siddique alias Bappi, 23, of Sylhet, Rofu Mia, 26, of Sunamganj, and the members of the separatist group Jouthang Sang Bom, 19, Stephen Bom, 19, and Mal Som Bom, 20, all of Bandarban.
“The arrestees confessed that they had an agreement with a separatist group (KNF) to provide them shelter and training in exchange for money,” Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rab’s legal and Media Wing told the media briefing on Friday noon.
In 2021, the Amir of Jamatul Ansar fil Hindal Sharqiya had an agreement with the CHT-based armed group KNF regarding militant training in the area till next year. As per the agreement, Tk 3 lakh per month and food expenses of all KNF members were to be borne, according to the briefing.
“In this regard, details can be known after interrogating the three members of the separatist group,” said Commander Moin.
“We are conducting drives through the remote hilly areas (mostly 2,500 feet high) and deep forests where they (militants) are hiding. They are also changing their location, sensing our presence,” he said.
More than 50 militants were being trained at the militant camps in the CHT area, he added.
Garment worker gang-raped in Gazipur; 2 held
Two youths were arrested on Friday for their alleged involvement in the gang-rape of a readymade garment worker in Salna area of Gazipur on Friday.
The arrestees are Hriday and Monir, of the Bariali area of the city.
Sharp weapons and a motorcycle were recovered from their possession, said Mosharraf Hossain, sub-inspector of Sadar police station.
According to the victim, she used to work in a garment factory in the Salna area. On Friday afternoon, she went to visit her friend near her house in search of a new job. On the way back home, two youths threatened the victim with dire consequences and took her to an abandoned house where they raped her.
Tanveer Ahmed, councilor of Ward No 19 of Gazipur City Corporation said they caught the accused after hearing the screams of the victim after Jummma prayers and handed them over to police.
On information, police rushed to the spot and rescued the victim and took her to the police station, said the police officer.
Further legal action will be taken after a medical test of the victim, he added.
4 held over supplying 'cheat sheet' during recruitment test in Thakurgaon
Four people, including two school teachers, have been detained for supplying a cheat sheet containing the answers to an examinee during the recruitment test of the Department of Social Services in Thakurgaon on Friday.
The incident occurred at the Thakurgaon Government Girls High School centre. The exam committee handed over the culprits to police for further action.
According to Shaharia Nazir, the Executive Magistrate in charge of the exam center, office assistants Md Jahirul and Deepti Rani were caught red-handed while handing a sheet containing the answers to the exam questions to examinee Shafikul Islam.
“Teachers Kabir Iqbal and Ahmed Jibril didn’t take any actions against either the examinee or the peons. Instead, Iqbal tore the answer copy apart and threw it out of the window when he got it. Jibril, despite being the centre's invigilator, let it go,” said Nazir.
Atiqur Rahman, Investigation Officer (IO) of Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station, confirmed the development.
Rab intensifies anti-militancy drive in CHT, 10 arrested
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested seven members of the new militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three of a separatist organisation from Bandarban and Rangamati on Thursday.
The elite force on Friday briefed the media about the details of their recent operations.
The main purpose of the drives by the elite force was to capture those who are taking shelter and taking training there after tracing their location, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rab’s legal and Media Wing told the briefing.
The Rab spokesman disclosed that the arrestees included seven members of newly launched militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) from Bandarban and Rangamati.
Read: Tourists leaving Bandarban amid security drive to remove suspected militants, criminals
They were arrested on Thursday night, said Commander Moin. Rab started their drives in these areas on October 9.
The arrestees were identified as: Sayed Maruf Ahmed alias Manik, 31, of Sunamganj, Imran Hossain alias Shaon, 31, of Pirojpur, Kawsar alias Shishir, 46, of Jhenaidah, Jahangir Ahmed alias Jonu, 27, of Sylhet, Md Ibrahim Ali, 19, of Barishal, Abu Bakar Siddique alias Bappi, 23, of Sylhet, Rofu Mia, 26, of Sunamganj, and the members of the separatist group Jouthang Sang Bom, 19, Stephen Bom, 19, and Mal Som Bom, 20, of Bandarban.
“The arrestees confessed that they had an agreement with a separatist group (KNF) to provide them shelter and training in exchange for money,” said the Rab officer.
In 2021, the Amir of Jamatul Ansar fil Hindal Sharqiya had an agreement with the CHT-based armed group KNF regarding militant training in the area till next year. As per the agreement, Tk 3 lakh per month and food expenses of all KNF members were to be borne, according to the briefing.