Popular actor in southern India Allu Arjun was released from jail on bail on Saturday, a day after he was arrested by police in connection with a stampede that led to the death of a woman at the premiere of his movie earlier this month. A 35-year-old woman died and her 8-year-old son was critically injured in the stampede, which occurred during the screening of Arjun’s release for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” in southern Telangana state's Hyderabad city on Dec. 4. Arjun was arrested after the woman’s husband filed a case against him, his security team and the theater's management for not informing police of the actor’s plan to attend the screening, which resulted in a larger-than-expected crowd. Police charged the actor, his security team and the theater’s management staff with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Police have already arrested the theater’s owner and two of his employees in connection with the case. Allu Arjun arrested over woman’s death at 'Pushpa 2' Screening A local court on Friday ordered the actor to spend 14 days in jail, but within hours the Telangana High Court granted him bail. However, the actor had to spend the night in jail because prison authorities did not receive a copy of the bail until late Friday, the Press Trust of India reported. The accident happened after the 41-year-old actor made a surprise appearance at a local theater where the movie was being screened. As his fans surged toward the venue, the theater’s main gate collapsed, resulting in the stampede. The actor did not comment on the police charges or his arrest. But shortly after the accident, Arjun wrote on the social platform X that he was “heartbroken by the tragic incident.” He later announced financial assistance of $29,000 for the woman’s family and promised to take care of the medical expenses for her injured son.  

A court here on Thursday sent Shahjahan Omar, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Jhalakathi-1 constituency, to jail in a case filed with Kathalia Police Station in Jhalakathi district. Jhalakathi Senior Judicial Magistrate Afroza Binte Shahid passed the order after rejecting his bail petition. Earlier in the day, local people also vandalised the vehicle carrying Shahjahan when he was on his way back home and assaulted him physically. Police arrested him when he went to the Rajapur Police Station to file a complaint. Ex-MP Shahjahan Omar arrested The agitated BNP leaders and activists gathered in the court premises area following the arrest of Shahjahan and staged demonstration there. They also threw shoes and eggs at the former MP when he was being moved to the court. Muhitul Islam, additional superintendent of Jhalakathi Police, said Kathalia Police filed a case against Shahjahan on November 20 (Wednesday) in connection with vandalising the Kathalia unit BNP office on December 4, 2023. Former MP and Food Minister advocate Qamrul Islam arrested in Dhaka On Wednesday night, unidentified miscreants reportedly attacked and vandalised the former MP's residence in Rajapur-Kathalia area. Shahjahan Omar served as an MP for the Jhalakathi-1 constituency, covering Rajapur and Kathalia. On November 30, 2023, Shahjahan Omar, former BNP Vice Chairman of BNP, submitted his nomination paper as an Awami League candidate for Jhalakathi-1 constituency.    

A court in Jamalpur on Wednesday sentenced a man to life term in jail in a case over the violation of a minor girl in Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur district around eight years back. Jamalpur’s Women and Children Repression and Prevention Tribunal-2 Senior Judge Md Shahidul Islam also fined the convict Tk 100,000, in default of which he will have to suffer one more year’ jail, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Md Rezaul Amin. The convict is Shahid Mia, 43, son of late Dastar Mandal of Dilalerpara village in the upazila. According to the case statement, the accused violated the seven-year-old girl in the village on April 27, 2016. Later, the victim’s father filed a case with the concerned police station. After completing legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment in the presence of the accused. Rejecting the verdict, the accused’s daughter Shahana said they would move to the High Court to get justice.  

The International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday sent former additional superintendent of police Shahidul Islam of Dhaka district to jail in connection with a case filed over mass killing during the student-led movement. The three-member bench of the tribunal led by its chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order when chief prosecutor Tajul Islam submitted a petition seeking to send Shahidul to jail. International Crimes Tribunal: Hasina to be brought back to stand trial, vows new chief prosecutor Shahidul, who was arrested from Cox’s Bazar, was produced before the court around 10 am. Earlier on Wednesday, the ICT sent former deputy commissioner of DMP (mirpur Division) Jashim Uddin to jail. On October 27, the tribunal issued warrants for the arrest of 17 former police officers including former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman for mass killing from July to August 5. On October 17, the tribunal issued warrants for the arrest of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others.

A Dhaka court on Sunday sent former independent lawmaker Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman to jail after his bail was denied on completion of five-day remand in a case over an attempt to murder. The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatuallh passed the order. Though the defendant’s lawyer submitted a petition for bail, the prosecution opposed it. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered to send him to jail, said Mirpur Model Police Station’s Sub Inspector Abdul Halim, also investigation officer of the case. Earlier on October 22, a Dhaka court placed him on a five-day remand in the case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station. Read: Barrister Suman put on 5-Day remand Suman was arrested for his alleged involvement in the killing of a student during the July-August student-led movement. 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 court here on Tuesday (March 19, 2024) sent Jagannath University teacher Din Islam, who was relieved from assist proctor post of the university,to jail after completion of his one-day remand in a case over the death of Law Department student Fairuz Abontika by suicide. Judge of Cumilla Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Abu Bakar Siddique passed the order when he was produced before the court after remand. A Cumilla court on Monday placed Jagannath University’s suspended student Raihan Siddique Amman and teacher Din Islam on a two and one-day remand respectively in the case. Cumilla train derailment: 4 bogies removed The court also ordered the investigation officer of the case filed to submit a report within seven days. Abontika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of the JnU Law Department, hanged herself at her Cumilla residence after accusing her classmate Amman and relieved assistant proctor Din Islam in a Facebook post around 10 pm on Friday. In the Facebook post before committing suicide, Abantika said that Amman Siddique and Din Islam would be responsible for her suicide. Hours after death of Abontika by suicide, massive protest broke out and continued till Saturday morning, demanding justice for the student. In the face of student movement, the university authorities were compelled to relieve the assistant proctor and suspend the student to assuage the movement. Jagannath University student Faizur laid to rest in Cumilla family graveyard Besides, the university administration formed a four-member probe committee. Members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested the teacher and student from Dhaka on Saturday night.

Khadijatul Kubra, a student of Jagannath University (JnU) who was released from Kashimpur central jail securing bail in two DSA cases on Monday (November 20, 2023) morning, sat for an examination shortly after her release.  Khadija was released from Kashimpur Women's Prison at 9 am on Monday and went directly to Jagannath University to take part in the semester final exam.  Although the exam started at 10 o'clock, she entered the hall at 11:30 am. She sat the exam in the fourth semester with two semesters lost. Her elder sister Sirajum Monira said, "We came to the prison early in the morning. Then Khadija was released at 9 am. Khadija's semester final exam starts today that's why we came early in the morning." Read: No bar to release JnU student Khadija from jail as SC upholds HC bail Earlier, Khadija secured bail last Thursday. The bail order reached the jail authorities on Sunday evening.  Despite waiting a long time on Sunday, her relatives had to return without her because she was not given the permission to release. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday upheld a High Court (HC) order that granted bail her in two cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA) in 2020. In October 2020, police filed two cases against Khadija and retired Maj Delowar Hossain at the Kalabagan and New Market Police Stations for 'spreading anti-government propaganda and harming Bangladesh's reputation.' Read: Rally held to demand release of Khadijatul Kobra The allegations in the two cases filed a week apart, were similar. Police arrested Khadija on September 17, 2022. She had been in jail since then. According to the case details, Khadija and Delowar conspired to broadcast false, fabricated, and defamatory propaganda about the Prime Minister, various government agencies, and senior state officials in order to oust the country's legitimate administration. They were aiming to destroy communal harmony through their conspiracy by promoting enmity, hatred, and division among various communities, it said. Read: Students demand release of JnU student Khadija Khadija was 17 when the cases were filed under the Digital Security Act in 2020, but the case was filed showing her as an adult, according to her lawyer. Despite having kidney disease, Khadija's bail petitions were repeatedly denied by a Dhaka court. On February 23 this year, Khadija was granted bail by the HC in the cases. The state filed a petition challenging the bail. On July 10 of the year, the Appellate Division suspended the bail of Kubra for four months in two cases. During the hearing, Khadija's lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua argued that she was not accountable for the opinions expressed by guests in videos on her YouTube channel. Read more: JnU student Khadija’s bail suspended for 4 months in DSA cases

BNP has alleged that its leaders and workers in jails are facing a humanitarian crisis as the prison wards are already overcrowded, filled with over four times their usual capacity thanks to ongoing wholesale arrest. Speaking at a virtual press briefing on Monday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also said the government is concocting 'stories of arson violence' against the BNP to blemish its 'peaceful' movement and to arrest more opposition leaders and workers.  “The prisons are witnessing a humanitarian disaster. Lawyers and relatives are unable to know where the leaders and workers sent to Keraniganj jail are being taken away. The leaders and workers have been kept in heavily packed wards of each building inside the prison,” he said. BNP postpones usual programme to mark Nov 7 The BNP leader said 40/50 prisoners are being kept in each ward, which cannot even accommodate more than 10/15 inmates. “Even, the imprisoned BNP leaders and workers are not allowed to go out their wards both during the day and night,” he said. Rizvi also alleged that the jailed opposition leaders and workers are being subjected to repression due to the political vendetta of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He also said more than 275 BNP leaders and activists were arrested across the country in the last 24 hours as of 4:30 pm Monday while nine more fresh cases were filed accusing 995 opposition followers. BNP, like-minded parties to enforce 48-hour fresh blockade from Wednesday The BNP leader claimed that law enforcers are daily raiding the houses of opposition leaders and workers to arrest them. Besides, he alleged that the government started a game of torching vehicles to put the blame on the BNP and thus suppress the ongoing movement for the restoration of people’s voting rights. “There’re countless proofs of which are now in the hands of people.” He said there is a video showing those who set fire to the bus running into the Awami League office. “Such scenes are seen every day in various incidents. The story of arson attacks against BNP is being cooked up and propagated only to tarnish the peaceful movement for democratic rights.” BNP’s like-minded parties announce fresh 48-hour blockade from Wednesday He said camera persons of some pro-government TV stations remain present where vehicles are torched. “It’s an indication to easily understand that arson attacks are part of a master plan.” Rizvi, however, urged the party leaders and workers to take to the streets peacefully during their blockade programme without responding to any provocation.

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

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail term suspension will have to be revoked first and she needs to go to jail again if she wants to go abroad for treatment. She said this during an interview with the Bangla service of Voice of America (VoA) aired on Saturday (September 30, 2023). The prime minister, now on a visit to the US, responded to a number of questions on US Visa sanction, human rights, Khaleda’s treatment abroad, caretaker government, the constitution and other issues. Khaleda Zia has been kept captive to remain in power: Fakhrul When asked about the possibility of reconsidering the decision to send Khaleda abroad for improved medical care, she said,  “My question is, which country in the world can send a convicted criminal abroad for better treatment? Will any country allow it?” “If they want to apply, they have to go to the court and take court permission. We have no authority over work of the judiciary," she stated. Khaleda Zia again moved to CCU from cabin at Evercare Hospital “But yes, we have suspended her jail term, given permission to stay at home. And she is taking treatment now in the most expensive hospital in Bangladesh. If they need to go abroad, the permission to stay at home would first need to be revoked, she will need to return to prison again, and court. Only after obtaining court permission could she travel abroad,” she said. Khaleda under close observation of medical board; no improvement, say doctors