United News of Bangladesh

A Dhaka court on Thursday cancelled the results to the 2020 DSCC election and announced BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Judge of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Md Nurul Islam passed the order, said the defendant’s lawyer Taherul Islam Touhid. The BNP leader was present at the court while the court was delivering the judgment. Election Tribunal declares BNP leader Shahadat as CCC Mayor Later, a celebratory procession led by Ishraque was brought on the court premises following the verdict. Ishraque is the son of undivided Dhaka City Corporation’s former Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven other accused in the sensational Niko graft case. Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Md Rabiul Alam passed the order, said the court’s peshkar (assistant) Md Belal Hossain. Earlier on February 13, the court set February 19 to deliver the judgment after hearing from both defence and prosecution, he said. On February 5, the recording of the testimony from the witnesses ended while 39 out of 68 witnesses gave the testimonies. On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and four others of causing a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state by signing an oil and gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko on behalf of the state that was deemed against Bangladesh's national interests and swayed by graft. The anti-graft body pressed charges in court against 11 people, including Khaleda, in May 2008. 6 witnesses testify in Niko graft case against Khaleda, 7 others The other accused in the case are former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain, former Bapex general manager Mir Mainul Haq, Giasuddin Al Mamun, former parliamentarian MAH Selim and former vice-president of South Asia affairs of Niko Kashem Sharif. Among the accused, BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain and former secretary of Bapex Shafiur Rahman died during the trial proceedings. Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty and convicted in another corruption case the same year. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. Following the political changeover in the country on August 5 last, Khaleda Zia, her party men and followers of other political parties are being acquitted in cases. Niko Corruption: How a deal facilitated by Tarique’s cronies cost Bangladesh over $1.06 billion On January 8, the BNP chairperson moved to London for advanced treatment and now is staying there with her family members.

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to film actress Pori Moni and her costume designer Junayed Karim Jimmy alias Jimmy in a case over threat and attempt to murder businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud. Judge of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Junaid approved it after the actress and the costume designer surrendered before it with a plea for bail, said Pori Moni’s lawyer Nilanjana Rifat Surovi who submitted the bail prayer. Earlier on Sunday, the court issued arrest warrants for Pori Moni and Jimmy as the two were absent while the court framed charges against them. However, the duo had been on bail in the case before the arrest warrant was issued. According to the case statement, Pori Moni and his accomplices entered the Boat Club after 12:00 pm on June 9, 2021, and insisted the the plaintiff gives them a free bottle of alcohol. Read: Pori Moni indicted, faces arrest warrant As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Pori Moni insulted the plaintiff and threw a serving glass at him and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasir Uddin was injured in the head and chest. On July 6 in 2022, Nasir filed the case bringing the allegations of threatening and attempting to murder him. Later, Pori Moni filed a case against Nasir and two others accused of attempted rape and murder at Savar police station. Md Monir Hossain, investigation officer of Nasir's case and also a Police Bureau of Investigation official, submitted the chargesheet against the duo with Dhaka's Senior Judicial Magistrate Court. The evidence of assault and threat was found during the investigation, reads the chargesheet.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a flat and a villa in Dubai belonging to former Padma Bank chairman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order on Wednesday following a plea filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, said ACC Prosecutor Advocate Mir Ahmed Ali Salam. Khaleda Zia, 35 others acquitted in Cumilla sabotage case An investigation into his alleged involvement is graft is underway, he added. On January 7, the same court ordered the seizure of 18 flats in Dhaka owned by Sarafat, his wife Anjuman Ara Shahid, and son Chowdhury Rahib Safwan Sarafat. The properties included a 20-storey building and plot in Gulshan, four plots in Dhaka Cantonment, a flat and two plots in Nikunja, a 50% share of a flat in Bashundhara, a plot in Badda, a 20-katha plot in Kaliakoir (Gazipur), another plot in Gazipur Sadar, a plot in Joar Shahara, and a 7.5-katha plot in Purbachal. Govt approves ordinance for transparent HC judge appointments Anjuman Ara's seized properties include a four-storey building on a 7.5-katha plot in Bashundhara, flats in Panthapath, Gulshan Link Road, Mirpur DOHS, and Shahjadpur, a 50% share of a flat in Bashundhara, a three-katha plot in Nikunja, a 2.5-katha plot in Badda, and another plot in Gazipur Sadar. The court also ordered the seizure of three flats in Banani and four flats in Baridhara belonging to Rahib Safwan Sarafat.

A Dhaka court on Monday placed former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu on a four-day remand in a murder case. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sharifur Rahman passed the order when sub-inspector of Gulshan Zonal team of DB Abu Zafar Biswas, also investigating officer of the case, produced him before the court with a ten-day remand prayer. Mansur Ahmed Chy elected TIB trustee board chairperson Inu’s lawyer filed a petition seeking bail for his client. On July 19, Bahadur Hossain Monir sustained bullet injuries during the July-August movement at Pragati Sarani. 3 arrested with 340 sacks of Indian sugar in Sylhet: Police Later, he was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Abu Zafar, father of Manir, filed a case with Gulshan Police Station against 105 people including Sheikh Hasina on September 30. Inu was arrested from his Uttara residence on August 26.

A Dhaka court on Monday sent four former MPs, including former Social Welfare Minister Dipu Moni, to jail showing them arrested in new cases. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Imran Ahmed passed the order. Those sent to jail also include former state minister for Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former MPs Hasanul Haq Inu and Rashed Khan Menon. Bangladesh’s top court stays HC order declaring Aug 15 as National Mourning Day Court sources said Inu and Menon were shown arrested in a case filed with Hatirjheel police station for attacking a motorcade of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Besides, Dipu Moin and Palak were shown arrested in a new murder case filed with Shahbagh police station while Inu faces a murder case lodged with Rampura police station. HC acquits Tarique Rahman, others in Aug 21 grenade attack cases After the fall of Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, the former MPs were arrested and put on remand several times in a number of cases, mostly of murders.

A Dhaka court has placed former Member of Parliament Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman on a five-day remand in connection with an attempted murder case. Dhaka’s Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain passed the order following a hearing on Tuesday. Earlier, the investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Abdul Halim of the Mirpur Model Police Station, sought a 10-day remand to facilitate the investigation. On behalf of the state, Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki argued in favour of granting the remand. In response, Barrister Suman’s lawyer, Jahangir Hossain Bipu, filed a bail petition. Suman was arrested for his alleged involvement in the killing of a student during the July-August student-led movement. Ex-MP Barrister Suman arrested in Dhaka Before the arrest Barrister Suman said on his verified Facebook account, "I am going with the police. See you in court. Pray for me, everyone." Suman was elected as an independent candidate in controversial January 7 polls from Habiganj-4 constituency.

A Dhaka court on Thursday sent former Member of Parliament from Sunamganj-5 Mohibur Rahman Manik to jail in a case over the attack on a student during the mass uprising. Judicial Magistrate Alamgir Hossain passed the order after Manik was produced before the court on morning, said officer-in-charge (OC) of Sunamganj Sadar Police Station Nazmul Haque. Ex-director of Data Center arrested Defense lawyer Abdul Hamid said the former MP was not present at the scene during the attack on students, yet he was named as an accused. He also mentioned that Manik is currently very ill, and they have applied for medical treatment and prison privileges. Besides, his bail hearing is scheduled for October 15. RAB arrests ex-MP Sohrab Uddin from Dhaka’s Uttara Earlier, on October 8 night, Manik was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the Bashundhara residential area in Dhaka. The arrest was made in connection with a case filed by Hafiz Ali, the brother of a student injured during student student-led movement.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced a man to death and four others to life term in jail in a case filed over the death of Taslima Begum Renu in a lynch-mob attack in Uttar Badda of Dhaka around five years back. Dhaka Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Morshed Alam passed the order in the presence of the accused. The condemned convict is Ibrahim alias Hridoy Molla and the lifers included Riya Begum Moyna, Abul Kalam Azad and Kamal Hossain. Jubo League leader arrested over murder case in Dhaka Earlier, the court set September 30 to deliver the judgment but later the date was deferred to October 9 as the verdict wasn’t prepared. According to the case statement, victim Renu died in a lynch-mob attack when she went to a school to get information about admission of her son in Uttar Badda on July 20, 2019. Victim’s relative Syed Nasir Uddin Titu filed a case accusing 500 unidentified people. Man stabbed to death over land dispute in Gaibandha On September 10, 2021, the investigating officer of the case Abdul Haque, also a Detective Branch inspector, submitted a chargesheet against 13 people including two under-aged children. On April 1 of the same year, the court framed charges against the 13 accused in the case. After completing the legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment while the two children are now under trial.

An application has been submitted to a Dhaka court seeking permission to file a defamation case against suspended assistant commissioner Tapashee Tabassum Urmi for her defamatory remarks about Abu Sayed and others who were killed during July-August mass uprising. The application was submitted on Tuesday at the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain by Abu Hanif, a member of the Gonaodhikar Parishad and its media coordinator. After recording the complainant's statement, the court said that it would pass an order on the matter at a later date, said complainant's lawyer Md. Khademul Islam. Travel ban imposed on former NSI DG, his wife According to the case statement, October 5, Tapashee she allegedly made defamatory remarks not only about martyr Abu Sayed but also targeting the government established through the student-people’s movement and its Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Her statements were disrespectful and undermined the legitimacy of a constitutionally formed government. Her comments could create public fear by threatening the stability of the government and damaging the reputation of its officials, it said.