United News of Bangladesh

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said the government has prepared a draft amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898, aiming to ensure a rights-based approach and stronger safeguards during arrests and interrogations. “We have drafted an amendment to CrPC to ensure right-based approach and strict safeguards during arrest and interrogation. It’ll be cleared very soon,” he said while addressing the concluding session of a two-day workshop in the capital. The Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with Youth and Sports Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry organised the workshop titled ‘Commonwealth Charter Youth Workshop Bangladesh-2025’. The Law Adviser said his ministry has undertaken a bold reform drive aligned with the Commonwealth Charter’s core values. Citing some reform examples, he also said the government has amended the code of civil procedure to make justice faster, cheaper and more accessible. Govt working to ensure faster, affordable justice: Law Adviser Asif Nazrul Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh advances full digitalisation of the judiciary to ensure transparency and efficiency. “We have actually started the process and wish to make a significant contribution to digitalisation (of the judiciary) during the next six months,” he said. He said the government amended laws on gender based violence for time-bound justice and introduced digital marriage and divorce registration ensuring gender equality. Noting that the cyber security act was one of the most hated and criticised laws in Bangladesh, he said the interim government has also revised the cyber protection ordinance to uphold freedom of expression. “We have made an amendment through a very intense consultative process and we have made 23 drafts of those amendments during the process of finalising it (this ordinance). We have made an amendment through a very intense consultative process and we have made 23 drafts of those amendments during the process of finalizing it (this ordinance),” he said. Govt working sincerely to fulfill people's expectations: Asif Nazrul The adviser said even Amnesty International officials admitted that this law is not a very bad law. “So, when you hear from amnesty people that it's not a very bad law that means it's a good law,” he said. “If you compare the cyber security law to the past versions, we definitely made significant advancements in terms of securing people's rights and helping them from the oppression of state missionaries,” Asif Nazrul added. He said these are not isolated changes which together reflect the government’s commitment to the rule of law, good governance, judicial independence and human dignity -- the values that echo the very spirit of the Commonwealth Charter. “The commonwealth charter is not merely a declaration. It's a moral compass that binds us across borders,” the adviser added. Youths from diverse backgrounds, including media, civil society, minority groups and academia, joined the event and gained a deeper understanding of the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter, including democracy, human rights and freedom of expression. Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Prof Luis Franceschi urged the participants to turn Commonwealth values into action in everyday life.  “The future of Bangladesh depends on the choices you make today. You may not be guaranteed success, but failure is guaranteed if you give up. So, don’t give up. Stand up. Speak up. Lead forward. Choose actions that will make your communities and country proud,” he said. On Monday, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain opened the workshop and described the Commonwealth Charter as a ‘moral compass’ for 2.7 billion people across 56 nations. Prof Franceschi is also leading a Commonwealth delegation in Dhaka to engage with the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Adopted in 2013, the Commonwealth Charter sets out the political, social, economic and environmental values and principles agreed by all member countries.  

Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who claimed to be an “adviser to US President Joe Biden,” at the DB office said that he “only followed instructions he received at the BNP office.” A video that has been circulating on social media, shows Arefy talking to DB officials. No DB officials have officially commented on this as of filing this report. Read: Mian Arefy, so-called ‘adviser to Biden’, detained from Dhaka Airport During his statement at the DB office, Arefy in the video is heard saying, “On October 28, Lt General (retired) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi brought me to the BNP party office at 3 pm to discuss their program. They requested me to deliver a speech. BNP leader Ishraque Hossain was also present, along with many others I didn't recognize. They asked me to introduce myself as a ‘leader of the Democratic Committee’ and ‘Joe Biden's adviser,’ and deliver a speech. I said what I was asked to say.” Arefy said he was admitting his mistake: “I said what I was asked to say at the BNP office. I'm sorry for what I said, I was wrong.” Read: Posing as ‘adviser to US President’: Should be arrested immediately, Momen says about Arefy Arefy was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka yesterday and subsequently taken to the DB headquarters on Minto Road for interrogation. On Saturday, Arefy visited the BNP central office in Naya Paltan and presented himself as an "adviser to US President Biden" when speaking to reporters. Alos read: Fakhrul denied bail, sent to jail

The High Court today (October 15, 2023) expressed dissatisfaction over the probe report submitted by the high-level investigation committee on the death of Union land office employee Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon. "The report is unclear," the High Court said. “It did not include anything regarding the process of detaining Sultana Jasmine. The report also failed to say whether her relatives were informed after her (Jasmine) detention. Therefore, the court is not satisfied with the report.” Also read: HC grants 2 more months for probe into Jasmine’s death in RAB Custody The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam made the remarks on Sunday. Later, the High Court bench directed the preparation of the rule for the upcoming hearing on this matter. The court scheduled the hearing for the rule for November 29.      Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick appeared for the writ petitioner in the court. Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas, Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan Dawood and Assistant Attorney General Taufiq Sajwar Partha were present on behalf of the state. Also read: Death in Custody: RAB quizzes Jasmine's son and brother-in-law Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick said the High Court was dissatisfied over the probe report as some key information was missing from the report. Earlier on May 22, the Cabinet Division formed a high-level investigation committee to investigate the death of land office employee Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon based on the High Court’s directive. The High Court ordered the committee to complete the investigation and submit its report within 60 days. On August 14, the committee submitted a 302-page report to the High Court. Also read: Sultana Jasmine died from brain hemorrhage: postmortem report Union land office employee Sultana was detained by RAB from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city on March 22. She was admitted to Naogaon hospital the same day after she fell ill and later died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on March 24. According to the postmortem report submitted by the Forensic Department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Sultana Jasmine died from brain haemorrhage. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said Jasmine was arrested for interrogation as there was an accusation of fraudulence against her. Also read: Calls grow for judicial investigation of Jasmine's death in custody

A 65-year-old man, who fell sick during interrogation by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), died reportedly of cardiac arrest at Chittagong Medical College Hospital on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Md Nazrul Islam, a resident of Rangunia of Chattogram. He was an accused in a murder case.  Rab-7 Commander Lieutenant Colonel MA Yusuf said they detained Nazrul from in front of Chevron Diagnostic Center at Panclaish in the city around 10 pm on Tuesday. READ: RAB captures chief plus 5 members of ‘Mosharraf Bahini’ As Nazrul fell sick during interrogation he was sent to CMCH where he breathed his last, he said. “Doctors said Nazrul died of a heart attack. It would not be right to say Nazrul died in Rab custody,” he added. However, Nazrul’s family declined to make any comment regarding his death. His son Setul said, “ We don’t want to talk about the death. Please don’t ask me questions.”  READ: Gang-rape in Bagherhat: Key accused held by Rab Nazrul was involved in contracting business and had taken loans from many people. There were two cases including a murder case against him.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday interrogated two businessmen, including the owner of JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd, over alleged graft in supplying poor quality mask and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

A court on Tuesday directed to interrogate cartoonist Kabir Kishore and three others for two days at jail gate in a case filed under the Digital Security Act over their anti-government posts on Facebook.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday summoned three people, including additional chief engineer of Public Works Department Mosleh Uddin, asking them to appear before it on January 16 for interrogation over their alleged link with controversial contractor GK Shamim.

Police detained eight people, including a girl, in connection with the murder of a Rajshahi Science and Technology University (RSTU) student in Nabinkinchapur village of the Sadar upazila early Monday.