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

The High Court on Sunday stayed for six months the suspension of Iqbal Monwar, a student of Cumilla University who was suspended by the university for publishing a report allegedly distorting the statement of the Vice-Chancellor.The HC bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order.The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the expulsion order should not be declared illegal.Advocate Sihab Uddin Khan stood for the petitioner.With the court order, Iqbal, an English Department student of the university, can continue his academic activities in a normal way. HC turns down ACC's plea to bar Samrat's travel abroadOn July 31, Iqbal, the Cumilla correspondent of Daily Jai Jai Din, published a report allegedly distorting the statement of Cumilla University Vice-Chancellor AFM Abdul Moin .On August 2, the university authorities suspended him.On August 9, a legal notice was served on Education secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman, Cumilla University VC, pro vice-chancellor and registrar, proctor, public relations officer, and chairman of the Marketing Department of the university seeking withdrawal of the suspension order. HC asks authorities to from committee to stop spread of ThalassemiaThe notice also said that there is no evidence of the distorting the statement of the VC and Iqbal was suspended out of personal wrath of the VC.It also said that, according to section 32 of Cumilla University Act-2006, there should be a disciplinary board but there is no existence of such board. So the suspension order issued by the CoU administration is illegal and beyond the purview of its jurisdiction. HC relieves Cox’s Bazar Sessions Judge after seeking unconditional mercy over bailIqbal was performing his professional duty and there is no connection with the university, said the notice. If VC has any problem with the report then he has the right to log complaint about it with the press council but without doing it, the VC misused his power by suspending the student, said the notice.  

The High Court on Monday asked the authorities to form a seven-member committee with specialist physicians to formulate a guideline to stop spread of Thalassemia disease. The court gave 30 days to constitute the committee. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam passed the order after hearing a writ petition. High Court questions hike in price of performing hajj It also asked the authorities concerned to submit the guideline once it is prepared within six months. The HC issued the rule asking the government to explain as to why effective steps should not be taken to control Thalassemia and why a column should not be attached in the marriage registry book related to the Thalassemia of bride and bridegroom. Eight people including the secretaries to the Cabinet, Prime Minister’s Office, Heath Ministry, Secondary and Higher Education under Education Ministry, Law Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry and Directorate General of Health Services were made respondents to the rule. High Court bans streaming of ‘Faraaz’ in Bangladesh Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while assistant attorney general Abul Kalam Khan Daud and Toufique Sajwar Partho represented the state. On June 15, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the writ petition seeking steps to stop spread of Thalassemia disease attaching reports of spread of it published in different newspapers. Barred from Ekushey Book Fair 2023, Adarsha goes to High Court The petition also sought publicity about social awareness about the spread of the disease among the students, public, government officials and others.  

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the indictment order against four people including Nobel Laureate and Chairman of the Grameen Telecom Trust Dr Muhammad Yunus in connection with a case filed for violating the Labour Law should not be scrapped. The HC bench of Justice Md. Ruhul Quddus and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das issued the rule and asked the authorities concerned including the state counsel to respond to the rule within two weeks. Advocate Abdullah Al-Mamun stood for the petitioner while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state. Appellate Division orders Dr Yunus to pay NBR Tk 12 crore tax on donations On September 9, 2021, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka 3rd Labour Court. The others accused in the case are- Ashraful Hasan, CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust, trustee Nurjahan Begum and managing director M Shahjahan. According to the case, in an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff who were supposed to be permanent were not made so. Supreme Court to hear Dr Yunus's petition on July 23 No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five percent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law. Upon a complaint, a criminal case was filed under sections 4, 7, 8, 117, 234 of the Labour Act. On June 6 of this year, Dhaka Labour Court-3 framed charges against the four accused. Appellate Division orders disposal of Dr Yunus’ writ petition over Grameen Kalyan Dr Yunus and three others filed a petition challenging the legality of the charge framing and seeking a stay order on trial proceedings in the case.  

The High Court on Wednesday (May 31, 2023) asked Nobel Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus to pay over Tk 12 crore as donation tax to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir passed the order after rejecting the petition of Dr Yunus challenging the notice of NBR. Barrister Mostafizur Rahman stood for Dr Yunus while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state. Read more: ACC sues Dr Yunus, 12 others in case over misappropriation of about Tk 25 cr On May 23, Dr Yunus filed a petition challenging the notice issued by NBR claiming tax Tk 15 crore on donation. The HC fixed May 31 for hearing the petition. According to the petition, NBR served three separate notices claiming Tk 12,28,74,000 as tax against Tk 61.57 crore as donation during 2011-2012 fiscal year, Tk 1.60 crore tax against Tk 8.15 crore as donation in 2012-2013 FY and Tk 1.50 crore as tax against Tk 7 crore as donation in 2013-2014 FY as per the Donation Tax-1990. Read more: Yunus, Clooney address German Postcode Lottery Charity Gala in Germany

The High Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition challenging the legality of cancellation of Gazipur City Corporation’s (GCC) former mayor Jahangir Alam’s nomination paper for the mayoral post in the upcoming GCC election. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Mohammad Mahbub-Ul-Alam rejected the petition saying that he was a loan defaulter till the submission day of the nomination paper which made him ineligible. Former Additional Attorney General MK Rahman appeared for the petitioner while Attorney General A M Amin Uddin for the state. Also Read: Cancellation of nomination: Ex Gazipur mayor Jahangir files petition at HC The writ petition was submitted to the HC bench concerned a week after Gazipur’s Returning Officer (RO) Faridul Islam cancelled his nomination paper in a primary scrutinization, as he is a “loan defaulter”. On May 4, Jahangir appealed to Dhaka divisional commissioner against the cancellation; the appeal was rejected on the same day. After being rejected, Jahangir moved the HC, challenging the cancellation. Also Read: Gazipur City polls: Ex-mayor Jahangir’s nomination cancelled; mother’s nomination valid On April 30, during primary scrutinization, Jahangir’s nomination was cancelled while his mother Zaida Khatun’s nomination was declared valid. Jahangir was the guarantor of an industrial organization. He was declared a loan defaulter along with the organization, the returning officer said. Though the former mayor and his counsel submitted documents demonstrating paying off the loan along with the nomination paper, the returning officer cancelled his nomination during the scrutinization.  

The High Court on Sunday rejected a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the appointment of Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Managing Director Md Abdullah. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat rejected the writ petition. Advocate Emdadul Haque Bashir stood for the petitioner while Advocate Syed Mahsib Hossain represented the Wasa MD. Also Read: Writ petition seeks probe into graft allegation against Khulna Wasa MD Advocate Syed Mahsib, said the authorities concerned appointed Md Abdullah as the managing director of Khulna Wasa in 2009 but the writ petition was filed in 2023. The petition also sought investigation into the graft allegation against the Wasa MD. However, the Anti-Corruption Commission did not find any evidence of corruption against him. That’s why the HC rejected the petition, said Advocate Mahsib. According to the writ petition, Md Abdullah was appointed as Wasa MD in 2009 for a three-year term and his tenure has been extended for several times. Also Read: Decision to award performance bonus to Wasa staffers illegal: HC   Secretaries to the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry, Public Administration Ministry, deputy secretary of Local Government (Water supply), Chairman of PSC, Authorities concerned of Khulna WASA, chairman of Khulna WASA, Anti-Corruption Commission and Khulna WASA MD have been made respondent to the rule.    

A High Court bench today felt “embarrassed” to hear a writ petition filed challenging the process of electing Mohammad Shahabuddin as president. The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel was set to hear the petition. But it forwarded the petition to the chief justice for a decision, saying one of the bench members felt embarrassed to hear the writ petition. Justice Ahmed Sohel expressed embarrassment, saying he was a lawyer at Anti-Corruption Commission for five years. Also Read: Controversy over President-elect unexpected: CEC   Supreme Court lawyer MA Aziz Khan filed the writ petition with the concerned branch of the High Court on March 7. The Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had been made respondents in the writ petition. The writ petition was filed challenging the process through which the president was elected, and the gazette that was published later. “Mohammad Shahabuddin was a former Commissioner of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to Section 9 of the ACC Act 2004, A former ACC Commissioner is not permitted to hold any profitable position,” he said. Mohammad Shahabuddin, a retired judge and former Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, was elected as the country's 22nd president. On February 13, a gazette was issued declaring him elected as President of Bangladesh under Section 7 of the Presidential Election Act, 1991. Mohammad Shahabuddin will succeed current President M. Abdul Hamid after his term expires on April 23.    

The High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) over failure to submit a report on revenue collection of e-commerce platform e-Orange. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat expressed the displeasure on Sunday saying that, “"Why is he (NBR chairman) not following the court's order?" What is the reason? Ask the NBR chairman to submit the requested explanation and information.” Earlier, on January 29, the High Court gave another two weeks to the NBR chairman to report how much revenue was collected against e-Orange transactions. On November 3, 2022, the High Court asked the Home Ministry about the steps taken in this regard. The Home Ministry took two weeks to submit the progress report. As it failed, the court has given another two weeks to the Home Secretary about this matter. On April 3, 2021, some 547 customers filed a writ petition seeking return of Tk 77.46 crore and directives for investigations into the allegations of money laundering against the company. The High Court on April 7, 2022 directed the Anti-Corruption Commission and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to investigate the allegations of money laundering and embezzlement customers’ money against e-Orange, and to submit a report within four months. It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why directives should not be given to the authorities concerned to take legal action against those involved in siphoning off money from the customers of the e-commerce platform after investigation. The customers of e-Orange ordered products from the e-commerce platform by collecting e-ticket after clearing payments. But the company did not provide them with the products.

The High Court on Wednesday ordered the Islamic University authorities to suspend its five female students who were found involved in the torture and humiliation of a first year student at Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order. The court also asked the university authorities to remove the provost from the dormitory. The five students are—vice president of IU unit Bangladesh Chhatra League Sanjida Chowdhury Antara of Statistics Department, activists Tabassum Islam of Finance and Banking Department, Israt Zahan Meem of Law Department, Halima Khatun Urmi of Fine Arts Department, Moabiya of Finance and Banking Department. The five suspended students won’t be allowed to take part in the academic activists of the university and cannot stay on the campus, said the court. Besides, it asked the IU authorities to allot Fulpori Khatun  a dormitory as per her choice. Also Read: Torture of Fulpori demonstrates university admin’s failure: Judicial inquiry report Advocate Gazi Md Mohsin stood for the writ petitioner and Advocate Shah Manjurul Haque stood for Islamic University while Deputy Attorney General tushar Kanti Roy represented the state. On Tuesday, the judicial inquiry committee formed to probe the torture on Fulpori Khatun, a first year student of Banking and Finance Department of the university, found that the girl was tortured brutally and inhumanly and the university authorities failed to act properly. It also found the five students responsible for the incident. The report was submitted before High Court bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Raziq Al Jalil The HC bench fixed Wednesday for passing an order in this regard. Also Read: IU students demand expulsion of five BCL activists over torture at dormitory The inquiry committee found their involvement in the incident and said hall provost and house tutor totally failed to perform their responsibilities. The university proctor also showed negligence and indifference in discharging his duties, said the report. Fulpori, a first year student of Finance and Banking department, was tortured and humiliated by Islamic University unit of BCL vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Antara and her cohorts at Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus in Kushtia on February 12. The incident came to light after the victim left the hall and disclosed the matter to her seniors and her family members the next day. The BCL leader also threatened that she would release the video on social media if the student discloses the matter to anyone, according to the complainant. The student lodged a written complaint with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and the hall provost, demanding punishment of those involved in the incident on February 14. Two probe bodies were formed by the Islamic University authorities and the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall administration after the victim’s complaints to them. The probe bodies submitted their probe reports to the university administration on Sunday. A writ petition was also filed by Gazi Mohammad Mohsin, an alumnus of the university and a lawyer, with the High Court. The Kushtia district administration, meanwhile, formed a three-member inquiry committee, led by additional district magistrate ANM Abujar Gifari, and asked it to submit the inquiry report within seven days following a High Court order on February 20. Accused BCL leader Antara and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order. The five students were expelled from Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on Monday as the hall authorities found their involvement in the assault on Fulpori.