The High Court (HC) has issued an order directing the authorities to conclude the long-pending investigation into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi within six months. An HC bench, led by Justice Farah Mahbub, passed the order after releasing a full-fledged verdict on the formation of a six member high-powered task force to probe the double murders. On September 30, the HC ordered the formation of the task force to probe the case that remained unsolved for 12 years. The court also directed the Home Ministry to execute the decision after removing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation as the elite force had repeatedly been failing to submit the probe report. Earlier, the submission date of the probe report on the double murders has been deferred for the 114th time till October 15. On October 1 this year, Runi’s brother Nowsher filed a petition with a trial court seeking permission for appointment of nine lawyers to assist the state in the case. Later, the court appointed nine lawyers, including Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir. On October 10, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Moinul Islam said police started reinvestigating the case. Read: Sagar-Runi murder: Court approves appointing 9 lawyers to assist public prosecutor On the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarowar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh (then 5 years old), was present in the house at the time of the killings. Runi's brother, Nowsher, filed a murder case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Initially, the case was assigned to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station for investigation. Three days later, it was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) of police. After DB failed to make progress, the case was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012. Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014. Read more: Sagar-Runi murder: HC orders removal of RAB from probe, formation of task force The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal. Out of the eight people arrested in connection with the case, two were granted bail, while the others are in jail. RAB Additional SP Khandaker Md Shafiqul Alam was appointed as the seventh investigation officer in the case on July 7, 2019.

Adviser for Shipping, Jute and Textile ministries Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hossain expressed concerns regarding two recent fire incidents involving Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessels in Chattogram and urged to refrain from speculation until the investigation concludes. “I do not want to speculate on whether anything suspicious happened or what happened exactly. Please wait for the investigation,” he said during a briefing at the BSC office on Sunday. The adviser noted that following the fire aboard the Banglar Sourav ship, BSC’s managing director immediately chartered another ship for lightering operations. “Let me mention that before the incident, the MD had already said this would be Banglar Sourav's last trip or service. Unfortunately, the incident occurred. I was worried that an oil blast could have shut down the channel,” he added. Another BSC ship catches fire in Ctg; one dies He credited swift response teams, including the Navy, Coast Guard, and Port Authority, for controlling the fire and preventing further damage. “The Naval Chief called at 5 am and confirmed full cooperation. By 4:30 pm, I was informed that everyone had been rescued,” he said, adding that the rescue operation was handled professionally, with one individual taken to the hospital. He emphasized the importance of safety measures moving forward and said crude oil from Banglar Sourav would soon be transferred. He also recommended increasing the capacity of the terminal. In response to a question about BSC’s fleet, Hossain said five BSC vessels are generating substantial profits abroad, including in Jamaica. “None of them are in Bangladesh. We plan to expand BSC’s fleet as soon as possible, Inshallah,” he said. He also touched on efforts to reduce corruption within the ministry. “As long as we are here, we can at least reduce corruption,” he said. Regarding the acquisition of four new ships from China, Hossain revealed that a team is working to negotiate lower prices. “We are trying to reduce costs. If money has already been taken, how will we recover it? The dollar was at BDT 90. An investigation will be conducted,” he said. Two buses set on fire in Gazipur to protest RMG worker's death He expressed frustration over delays in several ministry projects, saying that halting them now would waste significant public funds. He vowed to send relevant documents to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigation. “A former prime minister once joked that her peon had TK 400 crore. Have you ever, even in dreams, seen Tk 400 crore? I certainly haven’t,” he said.

Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun announced a thorough investigation into the shooting incident where a police constable killed his colleague in the Baridhara diplomatic zone. The probe will rely on CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, he said. The police chief addressed the media late last night at the scene, in front of the Palestine Embassy, where the tragic event unfolded. Eyewitnesses reported a heated argument between police constables Monirul Islam and Kawsar Ali after 11 pm. During the altercation, Kawsar began firing indiscriminately, hitting Monirul in the chest and killing him instantly. Sajjad Sheikh, a driver for the Japan Embassy who was nearby, was also injured in the shooting. Policeman gunned down by fellow cop in Baridhara; pedestrian injured The incident caused widespread panic, leading to road closures in the surrounding area. It took special police forces, including SWAT and the Detective Branch, about half an hour to disarm and apprehend Kawsar. Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, along with senior police officials, quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation. A security guard, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted that after shooting Monirul, Kawsar stood at the main gate of the Palestine Embassy. When questioned about Monirul’s lifeless body, Kawsar reportedly claimed he was "pretending." Kawsar then moved to the road opposite the embassy gate, where security personnel finally apprehended him. Witnesses reported hearing five to six rounds of gunfire during the incident. Slovakian prime minister in life-threatening condition after being shot Sajjad Sheikh, the injured driver, was admitted to United Hospital, according to his family.

Bangladesh authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the assaults on at least 27 journalists covering recent political rallies and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said. On October 28, at least 27 journalists covering rallies in Dhaka were attacked. CPJ spoke to journalists who accused BNP supporters of attacking the journalists. Md Rafsan Jani, a crime reporter for the daily Kalbela newspaper, told CPJ that he was filming BNP supporters assaulting police officers when two demonstrators approached him and took his phone and identification card. A group of BNP supporters then surrounded Jani and beat him with iron rods, sticks, and pipes as he repeatedly identified himself as a journalist, he said, adding that he managed to escape after around 20 minutes. CPJ, rights groups call for stopping ‘harassment’ of journalist Rozina As of November 1, his items had not been returned. The CPJ also took note of The Daily Star report that claimed Awami League demonstrators beat the daily Kalbela reporter Abu Saleh Musa while covering their rally. “The attacks on at least 27 Bangladeshi journalists covering recent political rallies in Dhaka must see swift and transparent accountability,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna. “The leadership and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League, as well as police, must respect the rights of journalists to freely and safely report on the lead-up to the upcoming election scheduled for January,” he said. SA Masum, a photographer for the daily Inqilab newspaper, told CPJ that he was taking photos of a confrontation between Awami League and BNP supporters when his head was repeatedly struck from behind with what he suspected to be a bamboo stick, knocking him unconscious while the attackers, whom he did not identify, continued to beat him. Bystanders at the scene rescued Masum and took him to the hospital, where he was treated for a concussion and severe bruising and open lesions throughout his body, according to the journalist, who shared photos of his injuries with CPJ. Md Sirajum Salekin, a crime reporter for the Dhaka Times, told CPJ that he was on his motorcycle on the way to cover clashes at the chief justice’s residence when a vehicle hit his motorcycle from behind, causing him to fall and break two bones in his right leg. Record number of journalists jailed worldwide in 2020: CPJ  Salekin said he believed he was targeted because he was wearing his press badge and his motorcycle was marked with a sticker of the Dhaka Times. Mohammad Ali Mazed, a video reporter for the French news agency Agence France-Presse, told CPJ that he was covering a clash between police and BNP demonstrators while holding a camera and press identification when five to six demonstrators surrounded him. The demonstrators damaged Mazed’s camera and other news equipment and beat him on his head, back, and right shoulder with bamboo sticks for around three minutes until the journalist fled the scene with the assistance of bystanders, he said. CPJ names Shahidul Alam among four for Int’l Press Freedom Awards 2020 Sazzad Hossain, a freelance photographer working with Bangla Tribune and international outlets, including the British newspaper The Guardian and photo agency SOPA Images, told CPJ that BNP protesters threw broken bricks at him and trampled him while he was covering a clash with police. Salahuddin Ahmed Shamim, a freelance photographer reporting for the news agency Fair News Service, told CPJ that he was covering BNP protesters assaulting police officers when seven to eight of the party’s supporters surrounded him, beat him in the back with bamboo sticks, and kicked him for around 15 minutes. Two journalists who spoke to CPJ — Sheikh Hasan Ali, chief photojournalist for Kaler Kantho newspaper, and Ahammad Foyez, senior correspondent for New Age newspaper — said they were struck with rubber bullets when police attempted to disperse BNP protesters, leaving them with minor injuries. Ali told CPJ that an unidentified man hit the Kaler Kantho photographer Lutfor Rahman with a bamboo stick on his right shoulder while covering the same clashes. Md Hanif Rahman, a photographer for Ekushey TV, told CPJ that he and Ekushey TV reporter Touhidur Rahman were covering an arson attack on a police checkpoint when they were surrounded by a group of 10 to 12 men who beat him with pipes and sticks and pushed Touhidur. Rabiul Islam Rubel, a reporter for the daily Kalbela, told CPJ that he was among a crowd of BNP supporters while covering the clashes at the chief justice’s residence when 15 to 20 men threw bricks at him while shouting that journalists are “government brokers.” Jony Rayhan, a reporter for the daily Kalbela, told CPJ that BNP supporters beat him while covering their rally. Rayhan was also injured by a sound grenade that landed in front of him while police were trying to disperse the demonstrators, he said. Salman Tareque Sakil, chief reporter for Bangla Tribune, told CPJ that he sustained a leg fracture after a brick was thrown at him while covering the BNP rally. Jubair Ahmed, a Bangla Tribune reporter, told CPJ that while police were dispersing BNP demonstrators, a tear gas shell landed in front of him, blurring his vision before the protesters trampled him while fleeing the scene. Tahir Zaman, a reporter for the news website The Report, was also injured by a rubber bullet while covering clashes at the BNP rally, CPJ said. Read more: Day 3 of blockade: 4 vehicles burnt in Dhaka, Narayanganj so far

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

An investigation into the origins of the FBI's probe into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign has finally been concluded, with the prosecutor leading the inquiry submitting a much-awaited report that found major flaws. The report, the culmination of a four-year investigation into possible misconduct by U.S. government officials, contained withering criticism of the FBI but few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation, as well as Trump opponents who say the Durham team's meager court record shows their probe was a politically motivated farce. Also Read: Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards accuser $5M A look at the investigation and the report: WHO IS JOHN DURHAM? Durham has spent decades as a Justice Department prosecutor, with past assignments including investigations into the FBI's cozy relationship with mobsters in Boston and the CIA's destruction of videotapes of its harsh interrogations of terrorism subjects. He was appointed in 2019 to investigate potential misconduct by U.S. government officials as they examined Russian election interference in 2016 and whether there was any illegal coordination between the Kremlin and Trump's presidential campaign. Despite skimpy results — one guilty plea and two acquittals — that failed to live up to Trump's expectations, Durham was able to continue his work well into the Biden administration, thanks in part to William Barr appointing Durham as a Justice Department special counsel shortly before Barr's 2020 resignation as attorney general. WHY DID THE TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THINK SUCH AN APPOINTMENT WAS NECESSARY? The appointment came weeks after a different special counsel, Robert Mueller, wrapped up his investigation of possible connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. That probe produced more than two dozen criminal cases, including against a half-dozen Trump associates. Though it did not charge any Trump aide with working with Russia to tip the election, it did find that Russia interfered on Trump's behalf and that the campaign welcomed, rather than discouraged, the help. From the start, Barr was deeply skeptical of the investigation's foundation, telling Congress that “spying did occur” on the campaign. He enlisted an outside prosecutor to hunt for potential misconduct at the government agencies who were involved in collecting intelligence and conducting the investigation, even flying with Durham to Italy to meet with officials there as part of the probe. WERE THERE PROBLEMS WITH THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION? Yes, and a Justice Department inspector general inquiry already identified many. The watchdog report found that FBI applications for warrants to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, contained significant errors and omitted information that would likely have weakened or undermined the premise of the application. The cumulative effect of those errors, the report said, was to make it “appear that the information supporting probable cause was stronger than was actually the case.” Still, the inspector general did not find evidence that investigators acted with political bias and said there was a legitimate basis to open a full investigation into potential collusion, though Durham has disagreed. WHAT CRIMINAL CASES DID HE BRING AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? Durham brought three prosecution during his tenure, but only one resulted in a conviction — and that was for a case referred to him by the Justice Department inspector general. None of the three undid core findings by Mueller that Russia had interfered with the 2016 election in sweeping fashion. A former FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, pleaded guilty in 2020 to altering an email related to the surveillance of ex-Trump campaign aide. He was given probation. But two other cases, both involving alleged false statements to the FBI, resulted in acquittals by jury. Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the Hillary Clinton campaign, was found not guilty of lying to the FBI during a meeting in which he presented computer data information that he wanted the FBI to investigate. A different jury acquitted Igor Danchenko, a Russian-American analyst, of charges that he lied to the FBI about his role in the creation of a discredited dossier about Trump. WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID DURHAM FIND? Durham found that the FBI acted too hastily and relied on raw and unconfirmed intelligence when it opened the Trump-Russia investigation. He said at the time the probe was opened, the FBI had no information about any actual contact between Trump associates and Russian intelligence officials. He also claimed that FBI investigators fell prone to “confirmation bias,” repeatedly ignoring or rationalizing away information that could have undercut the premise of their investigation, and he noted that the FBI failed to corroborate a single substantive allegation from a dossier of research that it relied on during the course of the probe. “An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes,” the report said, using the FBI's code name for the Trump-Russia probe. “Unfortunately, it did not.” HOW DID THE FBI RESPOND? The FBI pointed out that it had long ago made dozens of corrective actions. Had those measures been in place in 2016, it says, the errors at the center of the report could have been prevented. It also took pains to note that the conduct in the report took place before the current director, Christopher Wray, took the job in fall 2017. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? It didn't take long for Republicans in Congress to react. Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said he had invited Durham to testify on Capitol Hill next week. Trump, too, sought to seize on the report, claiming anew in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Durham report had found “the crime of the century” and calling the Russia investigation the “Democrat Hoax.” Though the FBI says it's already taken some steps to address the problems cited in the report, Durham did say it's possible more reform could be needed. One idea, he said, would be to provide additional scrutiny of politically sensitive investigations by identifying an official who would be responsible for challenging the steps taken in a probe. He said his team had considered but did not ultimately recommend steps that would curtail the FBI's investigative authorities, including its use of tools under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to eavesdrop on suspected spies or terrorists.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the authorities concerned to investigate whether opposition BNP and Jamaat, who had unleashed a campaign of terror and arson attacks during 2013-14, are involved in the recent fire incidents in the country. “It should be investigated whether they (BNP-Jamaat) are taking a different path by causing incidents like fire and cripple the economy,” she said. The prime minister said this while speaking at the Awami League Local Government Nomination Board meeting held at her official residence Ganabhaban. Her call came even as another massive fire broke out in Dhaka's New Super Market gutting scores of shops early Saturday. Also read: Intelligence agencies urged to probe if sabotage is behind frequent fire incidents: Fire Service DG Hasina, also the president of Awami League, asked to investigate whether the fire incidents in various markets were conspiracy or sabotage to hurt the economy. She asked to increase surveillance in important markets across the country. “Everyone should be more aware. Everyone has to make arrangements on their own initiative to guard (their establishments). All efforts by the government will continue,” she said. She also said that unwanted crowds must not be allowed to gather during the fire fighters' battle to control the blaze and strict action will be taken in case of any obstruction regarding this matter. The PM said that when the first fire incident occurred it was thought to be an accident. “But after the couple of other fire incidents at the same time of the first one… the fire incidents are taking place after 6am. Surveillance should be increased and other markets have to remain alert,” she said. She also mentioned that it has been noticed that when the fire service comes they face obstacles by some people. “Why will they face obstacles and while they tried to douse the fire some people with sticks and blunt instruments attacked the fire fighters. Who are these people?, " she wondered. She said that a careful study of the four recent fire incidents at shopping malls in the city suggests these have been either planned or manipulated. “We know that some political parties are there to wage movement after Eid, cripple the economy and oust the government. Yes, you can oust the government, but what are the faults of these common people and businessmen,” she asked. She said that businesspeople have been the worst sufferers as fire incidents hit them at a time when they looked for brisk business. “This will not be spared easily, and we have increased our surveillance in this matter,” she said. She also urged the people to remain alert. Recalling the arson terrorism by the BNP-Jamaat clique in the recent past, she suspected that they might resort to another path aimed at hurting the economy. "It should be properly investigated," she asserted. “In the past they burnt the common people and now wonder whether they have taken a different path to cripple the economy. We have to unearth this mystery,” she said. She requested all to remain alert regarding BNP-Jamaat’s change of strategy of taking to arson terrorism in another form. “We have to keep this under watch,” she added.

The US Embassy in Dhaka expects an investigation thoroughly into a reported attack on Mahinur Ahmed Khan, brother of UK-based journalist Zulkarnain Saer Khan Sami "We wish Khan a speedy recovery, and we hope the case is thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice," said acting US Embassy Spokesperson Bryan Schiller in a statement on Friday. Bryan Schiller said the US Embassy is aware of reports that Mahinur was attacked in front of his home in Mirpur last week.   Mahinur Ahmed Khan, 37, came under attack at about 8:00pm on March 17 as he went out to buy some essential items from a shop opposite his house, according to his wife Rubyda Rakhee.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that there was no proper investigation into the killings of 57 army officers in the BDR mutiny in 2009. "We think the way this incident should have been investigated and the way the investigation process should have been conducted to bring out the real offenders and the masterminds through a fair investigation, that didn’t happen unfortunately,” he said. Fakhrul came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at a monument set up at Banani Army Graveyard in memory of the army officials killed in the Pilkhana carnage, marking the 14th anniversary of the incident. He said the Army had conducted an investigation into the BDR mutiny incident, but the nation has not yet got the full report of that probe. The BNP leader said some people were awarded death sentences and life imprisonment in a case filed in connection with the mutiny and subsequent killings. But he lamented that the trial of another case filed under the Explosive Substances Act in connection with the same incident has not yet been completed, forcing many soldiers of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) who claim themselves innocent still stay in jail. "I was in prison a few days ago. I saw there that many ex-BDR members who were made accused in this case have been living inhumanly for 13/14 years. Their families and future are ruined,” Fakhrul said. He demanded the government take steps to complete the trial in the explosive case so that those who are innocent can return to normal life with their families. On 25-26 February 2009, a mutiny in the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) left 74 people, including 57 army officers, murdered at the Pilkhana Headquarters.

Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) today (January 19, 2023) condemned the death of a trader "in police custody" in Gazipur and demanded legal action against those involved after ensuring fair investigation. Family members and locals say that Rabiul Islam, 40, a resident of Peyara Bagan in Gazipur city died while in police custody. The incident came to light on Wednesday. According to the statement of MSF, the statement of police over the incident was not acceptable. The organization demanded fair investigation into the death, autopsy and publication of the autopsy report. Read More: Trader's beheaded body found in Chandpur They also demanded legal action against those involved after finding out the actual reason behind the death. Police arrested Rabiul along with three others on charge of gambling on January 14. However, police released three of them. On January 17, a team of police went to the house of Rabiul and took a signature on a white paper from his wife, the latter said. After that, Rabiul’s wife came to know that her husband was dead. Read more: Trader’s death in ‘police custody’: Locals block Dhaka-M’sing, Dhaka-Tangail highways Malek Khasru, officer-in-charge of Basan Police Station, said two sub-inspectors took Rabiul to the police station and they let him go from the police station on January 17. But on the way home, Rabiul was knocked down by a truck, he said. Later, he was taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College and Hospital and he died there, according to police. Enraged by the death, local people, equipped with sticks, put up barricades on Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways on Wednesday morning, disrupting traffic movement. Two policemen of Gazipur Metropolitan Police were withdrawn from their duty on Wednesday over the death. Read More: Trader’s death in ‘police custody’: Locals block Dhaka-M’sing, Dhaka-Tangail highways The policemen are: Mahbub and Nurul Islam, both assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) of Bason Police Station, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsur Rahman told UNB. Meanwhile, a three-member probe committee headed by Additional Police Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Md Delwar Hossain has been formed to investigate this incident, he added.