law-order
Court sends student who slapped teacher in Chuadanga to Child Development Centre
A Chuadanga court on Tuesday sent the student of Victoria Jubilee Government High School who gained infamy for slapping a teacher to a government-run Child Development Centre in Jashore.
The Chuadanga Women and Children Repression and Prevention Tribunal Judge Musrat Jerin passed the order rejecting a bail plea placed by the student, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Advocate Abu Taleb.
Also read: Odhikar’s Adilur, Nasiruddin secure bail from HC
The student of class 10 slapped the teacher for taking away his answer script on grounds of adopting unfair means during an examination on Sunday.
School headmaster Sheikh Safiar Rahman, on behalf of the teacher, lodged a complaint with Sadar police station in this regard, though police later recorded it as a regular case.
Also read: SC upholds Tangail AL leader Golam Kibria's bail in rape case
Sadar Police Station’ Officer-in-Charge Mahbubur Rahman said they recorded the case for obstructing government employees from performing duties by attacking, or using offensive power, and other grounds under sections 332, 353, and 506.
Deputy Commissioner of Chuadanga, Dr Kisinger Chakma, formed a four-member body headed by Additional Commissioner (Education and ICT) Sharmin Akter to investigate the matter and submit a report within three working days.
Also read: One sentenced death, three others life term for killing a motorcyclist in Barishal
Also on Tuesday, former and current students of the school held a human chain in front of the institution demanding justice for the teacher in the morning.
They also put a barricade on the Chuadanga-Jibannagar Road for a while to press home their demand, triggering a severe traffic gridlock on both sides of the road. Later, they cleared the road upon intervention by the police.
Odhikar’s Adilur, Nasiruddin secure bail from HC
The High Court (HC) today granted bail to Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and Director Nasiruddin Elan, who were sentenced to two years’ of imprisonment in a case over a "distorted report" on the May 5-6, 2013 police action on a Hefajat-e-Islam rally in Dhaka’s Motijheel.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Imdadul Haque passed the order following a petition filed by Adilur and Elan seeking bail.
The court also suspended the order of their fine of Tk 10,000.
Senior Attorney General Mohammad Ali and lawyer Md Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan appeared for Adilur and Elan in the court.
On September 14, the cyber tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Adilur and Nasir for two years in a case filed under Section 57 of ICT Act.
Read: Fakhrul demands immediate release of Odhikar’s Adilur, Nasiruddin
This was the maiden case filed under the ICT Act.
In 2013, Odhikar published a report on its website that claimed 61 people were killed at a Hefajat rally at Shapla Chattar in the capital following a clash between the activists and law enforcement agencies on May 5, 2013.
Detective Branch (DB) Sub-inspector Ashraful Islam filed a general diary at Gulshan Police Station on August 10 of the same year. The GD was later registered as a case.
On September 4 of the same year, DB Inspector Ashraful Alam submitted a charge sheet against Adilur and Nasiruddin to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka.
Read: Odhikar’s Adilur, Nasiruddin get 2-year jail in ICT case
In 2014, the court framed charges against the two accused and ordered the trial to begin.
The court was supposed to deliver the verdict on September 7 this year after the arguments of the prosecution and the defence ended on August 24.
On that day, the court referred the pronouncement of the verdict to September 14 as its verdict was not ready.
Read more: DU Chhatra Odhikar Parishad leaders resign en bloc
Woman falls to her death from Mouchak-Malibagh Flyover
Police on Monday recovered the body of a young female dancer from under the Mouchak-Malibagh flyover, near the Malibagh Safena Women medical College Hospital in the capital.
Police are unsure however whether it was a case of suicide or murder till filing of this report.
The deceased was identified as Sahida Islam Meem, 21, daughter of late Abu Sayeed of Bagichartek of West Rampura in the capital.
On information, police recovered the body at around 3am, said Sub-inspector (SI) Amena Khanam of Ramna Police Station. The body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy at around 10am.
The exact cause of death will be known after getting the post-mortem report, said SI Amena.
Read: Dancer Ivan put on 7-day remand in human trafficking case
Talking to reporters, Azimun Islam, the mother of the victim, said her daughter went out while talking to one of her male friends over phone around 8:30pm on Sunday night.
"We tried several times to contact her through her phone as she wasn’t returning home. However, she didn’t pick up the phone," said Azimun Islam.
“In the early hours of Monday, the police called and asked us to go to the Ramna police station,” she said. “We went there and identified her body.”
"I believe my daughter was killed," she alleged.
Read: College student found dead in Joypurhat
When contacted, Ramna Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Hasan said the police came to know that the victim was last seen on the flyover locked in an altercation with someone late Sunday night.
She may have committed suicide jumping on the road from the flyover or she may have been pushed off the flyover, the OC said.
However, the actual reason behind her death will be ascertained after investigation, said OC Abul.
Read more: 70-year-old man found dead in Chattogram
Cabinet nods draft labour law increasing maternity leave to 120 days
The Cabinet on Monday in principle approved the draft of Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2023, increasing the maternity leave to 120 days from 112 days (16 weeks).
The approval came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the city.
Institutions must be held accountable to build a developed Bangladesh: LGRD Minister
“Now a female worker can avail 16 weeks as maternity leave –-eight weeks before the birth of a baby and eight weeks after the birth. But the leave has been made 120 days in the draft law,” said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.
A woman can enjoy the leave at her convenient time before or after the delivery of the baby, he said.
Besides, the condition for formation of a trade union was eased in the proposed law.
Winter is coming, vegetable prices will come down: Agri Minister
To form a trade union, the signatures of 15 percent workers are required in a company having over 3,000 workers and the signatures of 20 percent workers are needed in a company having less than 3,000 employees. As per the existing law, 20 percent signatures are required in both cases.
In the case of a group of companies, the signatures of 20 percent workers (instead of 30pc) are required to form a trade union.
As per the proposed law, the decision of the Labour Appeal Tribunal can be challenged in the Appellate Division not in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court as the tribunal is headed by a High Court judge.
The Cabinet also gave the final approval to the draft of Foreign Voluntary Organisations (Acquisition of Immovable Assets Regulation) Act, 2023 with a provision that such organisations can’t acquire immovable assets without permission of the government.
A foreign voluntary organisation can’t acquire immovable assets through purchase, receiving donation or any other means without the permission of the government, said Mahbub Hossain.
The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of Payra-Kuakata Development Authority Act, 2023 to make development in a planned way there.
Govt to procure 7 lakh mts of paddy, rice during Aman season: Food Minister
The Cabinet cleared the draft of an agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Algeria on mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, services and official passports.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet relieved the Agriculture Ministry from the responsibility of framing the policy over agricultural investment in foreign lands.
One sentenced death, three others life term for killing a motorcyclist in Barishal
A Barishal court on Monday sentenced a man to death and three others to life in jail in a case over killing a motorcyclist in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal around four years back.
Barishal District and Sessions Judge KM Rasheduzaaman Raja also fined the convicts Tk 10,000 each, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Obayed Ullah Saju.
The convicts--Russell Hawlader, Shaheen, Bellal and Idris, are from Sadar upazila of Barguna.
Read: 3 sentenced to death for killing driver in Chuadanga
Russell was handed the death penalty and all the convicts were on the dock of the court during the delivery of the judgment.
The court also acquitted one Syed Mridha Khalil from the charges as the allegations brought against him were not proved.
According to the case statement, the convicts went to Khairabad village under the upazila to install a tube well on March 5, 2019.
Read: 4 sentenced to death for murder in Sylhet 22 years ago
The workers killed victim Faisal Ahmed Prince, a biker by profession on hire at the village, hitting on his head with a heavy object and snatched away his mobile phone, motorbike and Taka in cash.
Later, the victim’s father Shahidul Islam filed a case with Bakerganj police station on the following day of the incident.
Police pressed chargesheet against the accused on July 31, 2020.
Read more: Four war criminals sentenced to death
5 jailed for life over 2013 murder in Chandpur
A Chandpur court on Sunday sentenced five people to life imprisonment for killing a man in 2013.
The convicts are - Mustafa, 25, Milon Hossain, 23, son of Monti Kha of Dakshin Rajapur village of Faridganj upazila, Bilkis Begum, 40, her son Ripon Hossain, 24, and Saddam Hossain ,27.
Chandpur Senior District and Sessions Judge Mohsinul Haque handed down the judgment this afternoon.
The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more imprisonment, Public Prosecutor (PP) Ranjit Roy Chowdhury confirmed.
Of them, Milon Hossain and Ripon Hossain are absconding and the rest were on the dock when the judgment was being delivered, he added.
According to the statement, accused Bilkis Begum used to indulge in immoral activities.
The family and relatives used to request him to refrain from these activities. But she did not pay any attention.
On Friday, March 8, 2013, around 6:30 pm, victim Mubarak Hossain, neighbour of Bilkis Begum asked her to refrain from immoral activities.
Being enraged, the accused ganged up and beat and stabbed Mubarak Hossain and his wife Nilufa Begum mercilessly, leaving them seriously injured.
Later, relatives rescued them and brought them first to Upazila Health Complex and later to Chandpur Government General Hospital. When Mubarak Hossain's condition deteriorated, he was first taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
He died on April 3 while undergoing treatment at the hospital.a case was filed at Faridganj police station against the accused following a complaint lodged by the victim’s son Md Zillur Rahman.
The then sub-inspector of Faridganj police station Md Akhtar Hossain was investigating the case.
Later, police arrested the accused Bilkis Begum on April 5 and sent her to the court.
The police official submitted chargesheet against the accused at a court on November 30 of the same year.
Special drive against illegal firearms before election: DMP Commissioner
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman on Sunday said that the police will conduct special drives to recover illegal arms before the upcoming national elections.
The DMP Commissioner came up with the remark while addressing at the training workshop for the members of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) at CIRDAP auditorium. DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit organized the workshop on 'Role of Media in Countering Extremism'. CRAB president Mirza Mehedi Tomal presided over the programme.
The DMP Commissioner said, all police units always remain active to recover illegal arms as recovery of illegal weapons is a routine work of the police. If illegal weapons are used before the national elections, the police will conduct special operations against it.
IGP asks police officers to act against abuse of legal firearms
About various extremist groups, the chief of the DMP said extremism or militancy cannot be eradicated fully but it can be controlled. We can now breathe a sigh of relief about militancy because the CTTC unit of the DMP has proved its ability to control extremism and militancy, he added.
The DMP commissioner also said that the Police has the ability to counter the various groups of extremists if they become active before the national elections.
Embattled Murad, wife hand over licensed firearms to police
In his speech as the special guest, the head of CTTC Md Asaduzzaman said that extremist activities are under control in the country. Bangladesh is now the safest country in South Asia, he said.
He also said that there has been no militant attack in the country in the last three years. Bangladesh has come a long way in controlling extremist activities, according to various international reports.
Smuggled firearms “from India” causing concern for Bangladesh law enforcers
Judiciary should not be politicised in any way: Chief Justice
Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan on Sunday urged judges and lawyers to refrain from any form of politicisation of the judiciary.
"The goal of justice can only be achieved by performing the collective and meritorious duties by judges and lawyers here and only then the dignity of the judiciary will remain intact," he said.
“It is my hope that this judicial arena of our Supreme Court will be illuminated with mutual tolerance, compassion and love.”
BNP-leaning United Lawyers’ Forum to boycott Chief Justice's reception
The newly appointed chief justice made the remarks at the reception accorded by the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court Bar Association on the first day of judicial proceedings of the new chief justice.
The chief justice said making comments on chief justice and the court without being well-informed does not indicate civility at all.
Quoting former chief justice Habibur Rahman, Obaidul Hasan said: “I also want to say that no judge is above criticism. I firmly believe that the right to criticize a judge's ruling is an integral part of freedom of speech which is guaranteed by the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law.”
Justice Obaidul Hasan takes oath as 24th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
The chief justice stressed on well-informed criticism to maintain the integrity of independent journalism.
But if someone abuses their freedom, whether it is the media, lawyers or anyone, the court's has the ability to take appropriate steps, he said
The chief justice urged all concerned to keep the judiciary transparent, corruption-free, independent and in line with the social justice theory.
Chief Justice rails against US visa policy on last working day
He also pledged to ensure a fair and accessible judicial system for everyone.
On September 12, President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed Justice Obaidul Hasan of the Appellate Division as the 24th Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
He was sworn in on October 26. Today was his first judicial working day as chief justice.
PK Halder gets 22 years’ jail for money laundering, amassing wealth
A Dhaka court on Sunday (October 8, 2023) sentenced disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL) Proshanto Kumar Halder, also known as PK Halder to 22 years’ of imprisonment in a case over amassing wealth and money laundering.
Thirteen other accused in the case were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each.
Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-10 Mohammad Nazrul Islam delivered the judgment.
The 13 convicts included Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Avantika Baral, Shankh Bepari, PK Halder's mother Lilavati Halder, Purnima Rani Halder, Uttam Kumar Mistri, Amitabh Adhikari, Pritish Kumar Halder, Rajib Som, Subrata Das, Anang Mohan Roy and Swapan Kumar Mistri.
Read: Court fixes October 8 to deliver verdict in graft case against PK Halder, 13 others
Of them, Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Avantika Baral and Shankh Bepari were present on the dock during the delivery of the judgment.
Earlier on October 4, the court set October 8 for delivering verdict upon ending arguments from the both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the defendants.
Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, assistant director of Dhaka Integrated District Office of the ACC, filed the case against PK Haldar for acquiring around Tk 275 crore illegally on January 8, 2020.
According to the case statement, PK Halder acquired wealth worth almost Tk 275 crore beyond known sources of income through illegal activities and kept them in his possession.
Read: India to hand over PK Halder to Bangladesh?
The ACC investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet to the court. In the charge sheet, the anti-graft watchdog accused Halder of laundering CAD 1.17 crore to Canada through illegal means.
A Dhaka court framed charges against the accused on September 8, 2021.
On May 13 this year, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates from the eastern state of West Bengal. He is now in an Indian jail.
Read more:Trial of graft case against PK Halder begins
Kashimpur inmate dies while undergoing treatment at Gazipur hospital
A prisoner who fell sick at Kashimpur Central Jail of Gazipur died at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital on Saturday morning.
The deceased was Raton Mia, 45, son of Sirajul Mridha of Tongi East police station area of Gazipur metropolis.
Read: Anti Terrorism Unit rescues abducted victim from South Banasree; 5 held
He was in jail in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act at Tongi police station, said Amirul Islam, jail superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail Part-2.
“He suddenly felt sick at Kashimpur Central Jail around 8:30 am on Saturday. He was given first aid in the prison hospital. Later, Raton was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital for better treatment where doctors declared him dead around 10 am,” said Amirul Islam.
Read: Eldest son of man whose headless body was found in Patenga held in Dhaka
The body will be handed over to the relatives of the deceased after completion of the legal procedures, he added.