United News of Bangladesh

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, who was acquitted by the Appellate Division from a death sentence in a war crimes case, has been released from jail. According to Dhaka Central Jail’s Jailer AKM Masum, the Jamaat leader walked free at 9:05am on Wednesday, after verification of the release order and other relevant documents. Azharul was warmly received by party leaders and activists at the jail gate, marking the end of nearly 13 years in prison. This is the first exoneration of a war crimes convict through a review petition since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5 last year. On Tuesday, a seven-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the verdict in Azharul’s favour after hearing his second appeal. Earlier, on April 22, the court had stayed the hearing of his review petition until May 6. SC acquits Jamaat leader Azharul in crimes against humanity case ATM Azharul Islam was arrested on August 22, 2012, from his Moghbazar residence in Dhaka on charges of war crimes. Since then, he had been in custody. He faced nine charges of crimes against humanity, including the killing of 1,256 people, the abduction of 17 individuals, and the rape of 13 women during the 1971 Liberation War in the Rangpur region. He was also accused of torturing civilians, setting fire to hundreds of homes, and committing other atrocities. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014, in five of the nine charges. Azharul filed a petition with the Appellate Division on January 28, 2015, maintaining his innocence. Later, on July 19, 2020, he submitted a review petition. SC sets May 27 for delivering judgment on Azharul’s appeal Following the appeal hearing, a bench led by then-Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain upheld the death penalty in a verdict delivered on October 23, 2019. The full text of that verdict was released on March 15, 2020, after which ATM Azharul Islam filed his final review petition.

A special operation conducted by the Bangladesh Army on Tuesday afternoon led to the arrest of notorious criminal Farid Ahmed Babu, alias “Excel Babu” (56), along with three others in the Buriganga Filling Station area of Mohammadpur. The operation, launched at around 3:30pm, was based on precise intelligence, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Listed criminal Subrata Bain, 3 others arrested in Kushtia, Dhaka According to the ISPR, Excel Babu faces more than 15 criminal cases in various police stations across the capital, including charges of murder, illegal possession of weapons, kidnapping, extortion and land grabbing. Excel Babu is believed to be the godfather of the teenage gang “Teen Age Tornado,” “Dark Strikers” and “Red Volcano,” as well as the feared criminal Anwar, alias “Shooter Anwar,” whose nickname “Kabzi Kata Anwar” underscores his ruthless reputation, the ISPR added.

A total of 11 people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Shahriar Alam Shammo, a leader of the BNP's student wing and student of Dhaka University, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali said on Tuesday. Of the arrestees, eight were detained by the Detective Branch (DB) while the remaining three were arrested by local police stations, he said at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre. The eight arrested by DB are Rabbi alias "Kobutor" Rabbi, Mehedi Hasan, Nahid Hasan Papel, Sohag, Hridoy Islam, Robin, Sujon Sarker, and Ripon. The DMP Commissioner said police were treating the case with utmost importance and carrying out extensive investigations. Among the accused, Nahid Hasan Papel has confessed to his involvement in the killing and recorded his statement under Section 164 of the CrPc, the code of criminal procedure, before a Dhaka court on Tuesday, the DMP commissioner added. The court granted five-days' remand for Rabbi and Mehedi. On the previous day, Sohag, Hridoy Islam, and Robin were produced before the court, which also placed them on remand. Ripon gave a confessional statement to the court, while Sujon Sarker was sent to jail. Responding to questions from reporters about the motive behind the killing, DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam pointed to a drug syndicate operating in the park, led by one of the accused, Mehedi. Borders fully safe and protected, reaffirms Home Adviser He said Mehedi, who is in custody, guided police to the Mazar area inside the park, from where a switchblade used in the murder was recovered. According to current findings, Rabbi was the one who stabbed Shammo. When asked if Shammo had any connection with the drug dealers, the DB official said initial findings suggest that Shammo and two of his classmates had gone to the park to get food and the incident occurred spontaneously. “The investigation is still ongoing. So far, it appears to have been a spontaneous incident. We are looking into whether there are any deeper reasons behind the killing,” he said. Responding to a separate question about a recent murder in Badda, DMP Commissioner Sazzat said, “Please give us some time. We don’t have a magic wand to solve every case immediately after it happens.” He said police take all necessary preventive measures to combat crime but added, “Not all incidents can be prevented through such measures. Crime happens in every society around the world.”

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is set to hear the leave-to-appeal petition, filed seeking stay on the lower court verdict and gazette notification issued by the Election Commission, announcing Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), on Wednesday. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque on Tuesday fixed the date for hearing the appeal petition. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for Ishraque while Advocate Mohammad Hossain represented the petitioner. Earlier on Monday, a leave-to-appeal petition filed seeking stay on the lower court verdict and gazette notification issued by the Election Commission, announcing Ishraque as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Senior Advocate Mohammad Hossain filed the leave-to-appeal petition at the Appellate Division. On May 22, the High Court dismissed a writ petition that sought a directive against administering the oath of office to BNP leader Ishraque as mayor of DSCC, clearing the way for his swearing-in. On May 14, Dhaka South resident Md Mamunur Rashid filed the writ petition seeking a stay on Ishraque’s swearing-in and disciplinary action against the judge who declared him mayor. SC orders reinstatement of 988 dismissed National University employees The petition also challenged the validity of the lower court’s verdict, which overturned the result of the 2020 DSCC polls. The same High Court bench had fixed May 22 for delivering its order on the matter after hearing arguments on May 21. Advocate Kazi Akbar Ali represented the petitioner during the hearing, while Ishraque was represented by his legal team, who welcomed the decision and said there was now no legal barrier to his taking oath as DSCC mayor. The development comes nearly two months after a lower court annulled the 2020 DSCC election result and declared Ishraque the BNP-nominated candidate, as the rightful mayor. On February 1, 2020, Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner of the DSCC election, defeating Ishraque by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes. However, on 27 March 2024, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal nullified that result and declared Ishraque the victor. Following the verdict, the constitutional body sought legal advice from the Ministry of Law on 22 April regarding publication of the gazette. Subsequently, on 27 April, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification announcing Ishraque as the new mayor of DSCC. Meanwhile, supporters of Ishraque resumed their protests in front of Nagar Bhaban on Monday, demanding that he be handed over the responsibilities of DSCC mayor without further delay.

The Appellate Division on Tuesday ordered the reinstatement of 988 employees, who had previously been dismissed from their posts at the National University (NU). A seven-member full bench of the court led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order in a packed courtroom. Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal stood for the NU officials. On August 31, 2004, former MP Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of their recruitment. On August 22, 2006, the HC dismissed the writ after a longtime hearing. Later, on December 15, 2010, former MP Advocate AKM Mozammel Haque submitted a review petition against the verdict, which led to a judgment ordering the dismissal of the employees. Dismissed BDR members stage sit-in at Shaheed Minar, demand reinstatement In 2011, the officials and staff were terminated from services based on directives from the higher court. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last, the terminated people raised their voice demanding the reinstatement while the NU authorities supported them. On September 9 last, the university syndicate decided to reinstate the dismissed officials and others who had been sacked from 2008 to 2024. Later, the university authorities submitted a petition with the court. Finally, on Tuesday, the Appellate Division delivered the verdict, clearing the way for reinstating the dismissed officials and staff.  

A team of Bangladesh Army in two separate drives arrested top-listed criminal Subrata Bain alias Fateh Ali and three others from Kalishankarpur  in Kushtia town and Hatirjheel area of Dhaka on Tuesday. The other arrestees were Bain’s associate Abu Russel Masud alias Molla Masud, Shutter Arafat and Sharif. Lieutenant Colonel Sami-Ud-Dowla Chowdhury, director ISPR, revealed this information at a press briefing after their arrest. Based on information, a team of Bangladesh Army conducted separate drives in Kushita and Hatirjheel area of the capital around 5 am and arrested them. The army personnel also seized five foreign made pistols, ten magazines, 53 bullets and one satellite phone from their possessions. The gang has long been involved in carrying out sabotage activities, murder and extortion in different parts of the country, said Sami-Ud-Dowla. PBI to probe Jatiya Party's alleged nomination trade prior to 2024 polls Besides, Subrata and Molla were the key leaders among "listed 23 top criminals" and the mastermind of the "Seven Star" gang, he said. He also urged the people of the country to report any suspicious activity or information related to terrorism to the nearest army camp or law enforcement agency. “We want to reaffirm that, under the clear directives of the Chief of Army Staff, the Bangladesh Army remains fully prepared and committed to ensuring internal security and the safety of lives and property of the people,” he added.

Amid frequent reports of push-in by Indian Border Security Force (BSF), Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Tuesday that the borders along the neighbouring country are completely safe and protected. “There has been no lack of safety and our people and borders are completely safe,” he said. He made the claims while briefing the media after attending the passing-out parade of the 14th batch of Deputy Jail Superintendents and the 62nd batch of male and female prison guards at Rajshahi Prison Training Centre. Regarding the push-ins by BSF, the home adviser said India has been asked to send people through proper channels if they are Bangladeshis. “We are prepared to return our citizens through the appropriate process, just as we send back citizens from various countries, including India, who are living illegally in our country. Discussions on this matter have taken place at various levels. Besides, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also in touch with them in this regard,” he said. New wave of  border tensions: ‘Push-ins’ continue despite  Bangladesh’s protests Regarding preparations for Eid-ul-Azha, the Home Adviser said law enforcement agencies have been instructed to take all necessary measures to ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully. Claiming that commodity prices remain at a tolerable level, he said paddy production has increased by 15 lakh tonnes and that potato prices have declined. Inspector General of Prisons Brig. Genl Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain, Divisional Commissioner Khondkar Azim Ahmed, DIG of Rajshahi Range Mohammad Shahjahan, RMP Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufiyan, District Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhtar, Superintendent of Police Farzana Islam, and Commandant of Rajshahi Jail Training Center Mohammad Kamal Hossain, among others, were present at the event.

In accordance with a public notice issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner on May 10, all forms of rallies, gatherings, processions, and demonstrations remain prohibited in and around the Bangladesh Secretariat, the official residence of the Chief Adviser at Jamuna, and adjoining areas. The restriction has been imposed in the interest of maintaining law and order, says  a DMP press release issued on Monday night.  DMP adopts zero tolerance against mob violence Authorities have urged all concerned to strictly adhere to the directive, the press release added.

A Dhaka court on Monday directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate allegations of nomination trading involving 10 individuals, including Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader, his wife Sharifa Quader and Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu. Metropolitan Magistrate Masum Miah issued the order following a petition filed by plaintiff Nazmin Sultana Tuli, a former Jatiya Party member and human rights activist, on May 17. The other accused are Rezaul Karim, Newaz Ali Bhuiyan, Sherifa Quader, Md Akram, Nazmul, Pabitra Sarkar, and Md Saidul Islam. According to the case, the accused, led by GM Quader, engaged in nomination trading during the controversial 2024 parliamentary elections, demanding Tk 50 lakhs from Tuli for a party nomination. Following this, Tuli protested at a central committee meeting, leading to tensions. On October 10, 2023, the party, with police support, raided her residence, breaking her door and looting furniture, gold ornaments, Tk 3.65 lakh, documents, mobile phones, and a laptop. The accused also threatened her life when she attempted to hold a press conference against them.

Unidentified miscreants stabbed a youth to death in an area under Sonadanga police station of Khulna city early Monday. The deceased was identified as Golam, 25, son of Md Ali Hossain, of Moyur Resident Area under Harintana police station of the city. He used to work as a police source. Quoting witnesses, police said a group of three to fourth youths stabbed the youth in the abdomen with sharp weapons at an alley adjacent to the 22-storey Bhaban around 12:30am, leaving him critically injured. Woman stabbed dead in Dhaka When the miscreants left the scene, locals rushed him to Khulna Medical College Hospital where physicians declared him dead upon arrival. Officer-in-charge (investigation) of Sonadanga police station Md Mizanur Rahman said they have already started a drive to detain those involved in the murder.