law-order
BNP-BCL clash: Feni court denies bail to 14 BNP activists
A Feni court on Monday sent 14 activists of BNP affiliate organizations to jail in a case filed over a clash with Bangladesh Chhatra league(BCL) activists and police during a demonstration against price hike of essentials in the district.
Feni District and Session Court Judge Imran Saleh denied bail appeal of the accused and pronounced the order, said Md Golam Zilani, court inspector.
Feni Jubo Dal’s in-charge president Belal Hossain, Swecchashebok Dal general secretary SM Kaysar Elin, Feni sadar upazila Jubo Dal convener Nizam Uddin Master, municipal Jubo Dal convener Zahid Hossain Bablu, Feni Chhatra Dal organizational secretary Zaker Hossain, Swecchasebok Dal vice-president Zahidul Islam Shimul, Dagonbhuiyan Jubo Dal convener VP Imam, sadar upazila Jubo Dal joint convener Faridul Islam, Didarul Alam, district Chhatra Dal joint secretary Fazle Rabbi, Municipal Chhatra Dal member secretary Ibrahim Patwary, Jubo Dal leaders Fazlul Haque and Mamun, are among the jailed accused.
According to the case complaint by police, on August 12, hundreds of BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal activists gathered in front of BNP office at Feni’s Islampur road for a rally against price hike of essentials.
At the same time BCL activists also gathered for a rally there.
BNP and affiliate organisation’s activists allegedly attacked the BCL activists leaving three of them injured.
To stop a clash between BNP and BCL activists, police were forced to fire rubber bullets at them.
Later police filed a case against 24 people and more than 150 anonymous people in this regard.
One to die for murder in Narayanganj
A Narayanganj court on Monday sentenced a man to death and two others to life imprisonment for killing a dyeing factory worker in 2019.
Narayanganj district and Sessions Judge Munshi Mohammad Mashiur Rahman handed down the judgment in presence of the three convicts.
The condemned convict was Md Mithun, son of Delwar Hossain of Bandar upazila of the district.
The lifers were Md Munna, son of Manjur and Md Chayan, son of Bonga of Bandar upazila.
The court also fined them Tk one lakh each, in default, to suffer one year more rigorous imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, Mizan Shikdar Mishar was stabbed to death by Mithun and his two associates on July 23, 2019 as he failed to pay Tk 500 he had taken from Mithun.
A case was filed and police submitted a chargesheet against the trio.
No security lapses for Durga Puja: Rab DG
Adequate arrangements have been made to ensure security for the celebration of Durga Puja without any trouble, said newly-appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) M Khurshid Hossain on Monday.
“We are doing cyber monitoring. Intelligence surveillance has become greater than any time before,” he said after inspecting the security measures of the Puja Mandap at Banani in Dhaka.
He said there was no specific threat from any quarters despite reports that 50 to 60 young men have remained missing while intelligence officials suspect that they have joined radical groups.
Read: Keep vigil against vandalism during Durga Puja: Obaidul Quader asks AL members
“No matter how smart they are, they will not succeed,” he said adding that security officials are monitoring the activities of the missing young men who left their homes and remained traceless.
“At the end of the puja, we wish to see some good results. We are working on it,” he said.
Rab has reinforced intelligence surveillance across the country since September 25 to ensure overall security during Durga Puja.
Read Palbari Puja Mandap in Sherpur: Sign of communal harmony for over a century
Rab members have been deployed to strengthen security from October 1 to October 6.
Apart from carrying out sweeping operations at various important places including Puja mandaps, Rab’s bomb disposal unit is working round the clock for any situation, said the DG.
This year, the Durga Puja began on Saturday, with the incarnation (bodhon) of the Goddess in temples across the country.
Read With scars from 2021, Cumilla sees tighter security for Durga Puja
The five-day Durga Puja festival will culminate with the immersion of idols on October 5.
Close to 8 percent of Bangladesh’s more than 160 million people are Hindu.
Monir murder: SC commutes death sentence of 4 convicts
The High Court on Sunday commuted the death sentences of four convicts to life imprisonment in the sensational Monir Hossain murder case.
The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the order after hearing the appeal petitions of the convict.
The convicts were identified as Ataul Hamid Porag, Alamgir Hossain, Ershad Hossain Bhuttu and Ratan Ibne Masud.
The court also upheld the life imprisonment sentences of two convicts—Golzar Hossain and Shaheen. Shaheen was tried in absentia.
Advocates Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, SM Shahjahan and M Masud Rana stood for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Nouroz Md Russel Chowdhury and assistant attorney general M Golam Sarwar represented the state.
According to the prosecution, Monir Hossain, a vegetable trader and son of Akkas Ali of Musarchar village in Sonarga upazila of Narayanganj district was hacked to death by the convicts on June 18, 2007.
Later, they dumped the body in a pond.
On March 30, 2017, Narayanganj District and Session Judge Court-2 sentenced four people to death and two others to life imprisonment.
Four held over attacking journalist in Rajshahi
Police have detained four people for launching an attack on a journalist in Rajshahi on Sunday noon.
Tanjimul Haque, Staff Reporter of the Daily Jugantor newspaper and General Secretary of Rajshahi Journalists’ Union (RJU), was attacked in front of the main gate of Bioherbs Ayurvedic, an ayurvedic drug factory located in Tultulipara area of Rajshahi city.
“Every day, the workers of the factory load and unload goods while parking the vehicles on the streets, causing trouble for the passersby. On his way to work today, Tanjimul got stuck amid the parked vehicles. When he protested, some workers swooped on him and injured him badly,”said RJU President Rafiqul Islam Rafiq.
SM Masud Parvez, Officer In-charge (OC) of Kashiadanga Police Station, said that a case has been filed in this regard.
“Tanjimul has filed a case against 19 people, naming five and leaving 14 unnamed. Later, police went to the factory and detained four people,” Masud said.
Meanwhile, journalists stationed in Rajshahi have conducted a sit-in protest outside the drug factory, demanding quick arrests of the attackers.
Upon learning about the incident, Directorate of National Consumer Right Protection (DNCRP) conducted a drive at Bioherbs Ayurvedic and fined the company Tk 2 lakh for expired drugs and other malpractices.
“Instead of renewing the approval, the company was producing medicines without it. Besides, they also didn’t have any chemist to maintain the standards of the medicines. Moreover, the medicines were being produced in unhygienic environment. That’s why we’ve imposed penalty against Bioharbs Ayurvedic,” said Masum Ali, Assistant Director of DNCRP’s Rajshahi unit.
300 people robbed in 15 years by dope gang in Dhaka airport area
A dope gang has been active around the Dhaka airport area over the last 15 years looting the valuables of new arrivals.
Nearly 300 expatriates have been robbed off by the gang members during this period, said Commander Al Moin, director of RAB legal and media wing while speaking at a press briefing, held at its Karwan Bazar media center on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained four people including the kingpin of the gang syndicate from Airport and Kadamtoli areas of the capital.
The detainees were identified as Amir Hossain, 52, the ringleader of the gang and his three associates—Liton Mia Milton, 48, Abu Bakar Siddique alias Pervez, 35 and Zakir Hossain, 40.
The ringleader Amir Hossain was wanted in 15 different cases and the elite force also seized gold ornaments, mobile and some tablets to make people unconscious (sedatives) from his possession, said Commander Moin.
After primary interrogation, the detainees said that there are 8-10 members in the gang and they have been conducting their activities in guise of different professions.
“Being interrogated, Amir confessed that he was the ringleader of the dope gang. He is involved in the misdeed for the last 15 year and so far he has looted valuables of 300 people. He also worked at a restaurant in airport area,” said Moin.
He remained in prison in different times and now he is on bail.
“Firstly they targeted the returnees at Dhaka airport and in guise of passengers they used to wander in the airport areas with luggage on the pretext of misguiding people,” he said.
Recently on September 2, the gang targeted an expatriate in Kuwait, who was scheduled to go to his home village in Bogura.
When the man reached Azimpur bus Stand, a gang member followed him. Later, Amir Hossain in guise of a passenger offered him a bus ticket near his seat and tactfully made him his companion.
Later he provided some sedative-mixed biscuits to the expatriate and when he became unconscious Amir looted his valuables and got down from the bus, said Rab.
On September 6, a complaint was lodged with Uttara West Police.
Cases over Quran placed at Cumilla mandap: Probes in final stages, cops say
Police are on the verge of wrapping up investigations into the 12 cases filed over the alleged desecration of Quran at a mandap during Durga puja in Cumilla last year that triggered violence and led to attacks on the minority Hindus.
On October 13 last year, a man, named Iqbal Hossain, allegedly placed the Quran on the lap of an idol at the mandap while another accused, Ikram, dialled national emergency helpline 999 to report the "desecration of the holy scripture".
The incident that went viral on various social media platforms led to violence and attacks on temples and vandalisation of houses and businesses of the Hindu community in several districts, including Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Chattogram and Rangpur.
Also read: Quran Desecration: Iqbal, 3 others put on 3-day remand
It left at least eight people dead and many injured. Of the dead, five were Muslims rioters who died in police firing.
All the 12 cases were subsequently filed in Cumilla. They are being probed by different law enforcement agencies including police, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
"Of the six cases under CID, chargesheets have been already submitted in five while another is waiting for administrative approval," said Md Zakir Hossain, superintendent of Cumilla CID.
“A case filed at the Kotwali police station under the anti-blasphemy and anti-terrorism section of CrPC (The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898) is awaiting the Home Ministry's approval to invoke another section to it. Meanwhile, chargesheets have been submitted in the cases filed under counter-terrorism, special powers, digital security and explosive substance acts."
Out of the four cases under investigation, PBI has submitted a chargesheet against one person in one case. PBI officials said that the investigation in the remaining three cases are also in the final stages.
District police have investigated two major cases filed over the temple incident in Cumilla but they are also waiting for Home Ministry’s approval to file a chargesheet, said Cumilla Police superintendent Md Abdul Mannan.
The two cases filed under the anti-terrorism act and sabotage under CrPC are awaiting administrative approval, he said.
Durga puja mandap will be established this year also in the Nanua Dighir Par area where the incident took place last year, said Cumilla deputy commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan.
Security has been tightened this year considering last year’s violence, he said.
Also read: Quran desecration: Protesters clash with police in Baitul Mukarram area
Nirmal Paul, general secretary of Cumilla District Puja Celebration Committee, said that 794 puja mandaps have been set up the district this year. “We hope that the puja will be celebrated smoothly this time with the help of the administration and the law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Derogatory comment on Bangabandhu’s killing: Col Rashid’s son-in-law gets 7 years in jail
A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced Md Fuad, son-in-law of Bangabandhu’s killer Colonel Rashid seven year’s jail term for his derogatory comment on Sheikh Mujib’s murder.Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge As-Shams Jaglul Hossain pronounced the order during a hearing on a case filed under the ICT act.The court also imposed a Tk 5,000 fine on the accused and another month in jail for failure to pay.Fuad, a school teacher and husband of retired Colonel Rashid’s daughter Shehnaz Rashid Khan, was present during the hearing.On August 15, 2018, at 7:17 am, Fuad made a derogatory remark on the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Facebook. He also publicly supported the convicted killers of Bangabandhu.On August 23, 2018, Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Piyas, a member of Ahsanullah Science and Technology University unit of Bangabandhu Engineering Council, filed a case against Fuad under the ICT Act at Dhanmondi Model Police Station.Fuad was arrested from the capital's Hatirjheel on September 12 during a drive. The accused later gave a confessional statement to the court. A charge sheet was then filed against him.On January 6, last year, the court framed charges against the accused in this case. During the trial, the court recorded the testimony of seven people.
e-Govt Dev Index: Bangladesh moves up 8 notches
Bangladesh ranked 111th among 193 countries in this year’s UN e-Government Development Index, according to UN e-Government Survey 2022 by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) that assessed the development over last two years.
Bangladesh has moved up eight notches in the ranking while it has climbed 20 steps on the e-Participation Index.
Despite the global crises over the past two years caused by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh has made a significant improvement in e-participation globally.
The survey results of the 12th edition of EGDI, titled E-Government Survey 2022 (The Future of Digital Government), were announced on Wednesday at the United Nations HQ in New York.
Bangladesh secured 111th place among 193 countries, scoring 0.5630, and 75th place in E-Participation or EPI with a score of 0.5227.
The survey assesses online service delivery, legal and policy framework, status of e-participation as well as telecommunication infrastructure and human capital.
It is composed of analytical chapters and data on e-government development contained in the annexes of the publication, providing a snapshot of the relative measurement of e-government development of all Member States.
The UN report said that Bangladesh secured the highest EGDI value in the top Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Bangladesh remains in the high EGDI group in two consecutive surveys.
The report said, Bangladesh has shown tremendous growth in terms of digital financial account access through the proliferation of branchless banking, which has taken full-service retail banking to the doorsteps of rural citizens across the country, and soaring mobile financial services (MFS), which have reached a client base of over 100 million.
Combining these channels, and in collaboration with the Ministries of Social Welfare, Finance, and Bangladesh Bank, the a2i Programme of the Government of Bangladesh, with support from UNDP, the Gates Foundation and the Consultative Group to assist the poor, developed the ‘Citizen’s Choice Architecture’ for digital payments of social safety net programs-such as elderly allowance, allowance for widowed, deserted and destitute women, allowance for financially-insolvent disabled people.
The UN has been conducting the survey every two years since 2001 to expand digital governance throughout the world and to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030.
Three killed in Noakhali during 'shootout between robbers'
Police in Noakhali's Hatia have reported the deaths of three men in what it described as a "shootout between two gangs of robbers," which erupted over a turf war, in Char Ghasia of Noakhali's Hatia early Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Shahraj (35), Kabir (40) and Nurunnabi (45), Hatia Police Station Office-in-Charge Amir Hossain told UNB.
Their bodies have been kept at Hatia's Chairman Ghat Police Outpost and will be sent to Noakhali 250 Bed General Hospital for autopsies early Friday, he added.
Earlier, Bangladesh Coast Guard claimed to have detained five robbers with arms following the turf battle.
The detainees are Md Hinju, 37, of Noakhali's Char Jabbar; Mohammad Harun, 37, of Lakshmipur's Ramgati, Mohammad Liton, 35, from the district's Char Gazi village, Mohammad Mosharof, 36, of Abdul Munshirhat Kalkini village and Azim Bepari, 27, of Char Abdullah village.
During its drive, Coast Guard seized three single-shot rifles, two rounds of bullets, six machetes, five spears and many iron rods from them.
According to locals, two robbers, who are also brothers, Khokon and Fakhrul were at loggerheads over establishing supremacy in Char Ghasia. Recently, Fakhrul took hold of the area after the law enforcers caught Khokon.
Coming out of jail on bail a few days ago, Khokon tried to regain his hold. So, the dispute between the two brothers resurfaced and led to today's gunfight.
Lieutenant Shafiul Kinjol, media officer of BCG Hatia, said: "Legal action will be taken against the detainees."