The High Court (HC) on Wednesday sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Advisor Habibur Rahman to five months in jail in a case filed over contempt of court around three years back. A two-member bench of  Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice Md Bashir Ullah also fined the convict Tk 2, 000. In the observation, the court said the convict gave wrong messages to people of the country and undermined the judiciary division. In this circumstance the court can’t stay idle keeping its eyes closed. To bury the court is to bury the country. BNP leader Fakhul's bail plea denied in case over vandalising chief justice's residence The convicted BNP leader was present in the  court during the delivery of the judgment and he acknowledged the allegations brought against him.  Lawyers Fazlur Rahman, Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kamrul Islam Sajal, Syed Mamun Mahbub and Ehsanur Rahman stood for the BNP leader in the court. Deputy Attorney General KM Masud Rumy represented the state in the court. Four BNP leaders, activists arrested in Gazipur over police killing on Oct 28 Habibur Rahman, also president of Pabna district unit BNP, abused the then Dhaka Special Judge Court Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman, who delivered judgment against Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust Case in 2018, at a television talk show following the verdict.   Later, a case was filed accusing the BNP leader.   In 2019, the judge was appointed as an HC Justice. On October 15 this year, the HC asked the BNP leader to explain his remarks about the justice on November 6 and issued a rule asking as to why punitive measures won’t be taken against him.  RAB arrests 3 BNP men on charge of sabotage As he didn’t appear on that date, on November 8 the HC wanted to know the whereabouts of the BNP leader and ordered the authorities concerned including the inspector general of police (IGP) to produce him by December 7. On November 21, the Rapid Action Battalion arrested him from Mirpur DOHS area and since then he has been in jail.

A Sylhet court on Sunday sent a former inspector of Nabiganj Police Station to jail, in a case filed over torturing his wife for dowry. Manikul Islam, who had been absconding for a period of almost six years since the incident, was posted at Nabiganj as police inspector back in 2017. Sylhet Additional District and Session Judge Mizanur Rahman Bhuiya passed the order after rejecting his bail petition in the case. MoFA official lands in Madaripur jail in case of dowry and torture filed by wife Earlier, in the day, Manikul, who remained absconding for a long time, surrendered before the court as it issued an arrest warrant against him. According to the prosecution, Manikul got married to a Bangladeshi expatriate in Canada after providing false information in September 2014. Later, he put pressure on his wife to take him to Canada. Later, she, a physician by profession, managed a visa for Manikul. BNP leader dies at DMCH after falling ill in central jail But by then, Manikul refused to go to Canada and instead demanded Tk 50 lakh from his wife. On June 18, 2017, when the wife returned home from Canada, he picked her up saying he would drop her at her parents house. Later he again demanded Tk 50 lakh. When the victim refused to provide the money, Maniqul hit her with the wireless and mobile phone sets on the face of the victim and hit her with the shoe at the moving vehicle. At one stage, Manikul also snatched away the passport of the victim, credit card, five tolas of gold and 5,000 Canadian dollars. Youth jailed for 5 years for posting obscene photos of woman on social media in Laxmipur When the vehicle reached Aushkandi Hiraganj on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, Manikul tried to strangle the victim. Hearing screams, local people intercepted the vehicle and took the victim to a local hospital. Manikul fled from the scene. After recovering, the wife filed a case.        

A Chattogram court on Monday sentenced five people to death for killing a schoolgirl after rape in Sandwip in 2015.The convicts are—Mosharraf Hossain alias Prakash Liton, 25, Akbar Hossain, 28, Sumon, 30, Nurul Absar alias Swapan, 32 and Abul Bashar alias Bashar, 47. Of them, Bashar and Sumon tried in absentia.Chattogram Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Joynal Abedin handed down the sentence. Man detained over ‘stabbing’ wife, son to death in RajshahiThe court also fined Tk 20,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more in jail.The court also issued arrest warrants against the fugitive convicts.According to the prosecution, a class nine student of Rahampur High School in Sandwip upazila went to school on September 13, 2015 and did not return. She was found dead in a ditch adjacent to her house the following day. PD, 5 others sued over death of 2 workers at PUST,1 arrestedParvin Akter, mother of the victim, filed a case with Sandwip Police Station.Police submitted a chargesheet against the convicts on January 6, 2016.  

A Barishal court sentenced three people to life imprisonment for killing a nine-year-old girl after rape in 2016. The convicts are—Based Khan, 48, son of Abdul Aziz and Shahrier Shakil Khan, 27, son of Matier Rahman of Uttar Sagardi in Barishal city while another was an adolescent. Based was tried in absentia. Barishal Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Md Yarab Hossain handed down the punishment. The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each, in default, to suffer six months more in rigorous imprisonment. 5 get death penalty, 14 life imprisonment over Laxmipur Jubo League leader murder According to the prosecution, Tonny, daughter of Tulu Palwan of Nobogram area in the city had gone out to call her father at Zia Road upon the request of her mother Sumi Akter and went missing on September 18, 2016. Later, she was found dead at a waterbody adjacent to their house on the following day. Madrasa teacher sentenced to life imprisonment for raping student in Chapainawabganj Tulu Palwan filed a case in this connection and police detained Shakil and the adolescent boy for interrogation. They also gave confessional statements admitting their guilt before the court. Police submitted chargesheet against the trio on June 22, 2017. 2002 attack on Hasina's motorcade: 4 get life imprisonment, 44 others 7 years’ jail

A Laxmipur court on Wednesday sentenced five people to death and 14 others to life imprisonment for killing a Jubo League leader in 2015.The condemned convicts are—Madhu, Mamun, Babu alias Galakata Babu, Shamim and Kawsar alias Choto Kawsar.The lifers are—Jahangir Alam, Nehal, Borhan, Tuhin, Zakir Hossain, Sohrab Hossain, Basir Ahmed, Mizan, Alamgir Hossain, Kasir Ahmed, Quamrul Islam, Anwar Hossain, Tarek Aziz Sumon and Tipon alias Jahangir Alam. Man gets death penalty for killing wife in Dinajpur The court also fined them Tk 20,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more rigorous imprisonment.Only Madhu and Tipon were present on the dock while the others were tried in absentia. Barapukuria graft case: Court sets Aug 8 for charge framingLaxmipur Additional District and Sessions Judge Syeda Amina Farhin handed down the punishment.According to the prosecution, Mamunur Rashid, vice-president of Chandraganj union unit Jubo League, had an enmity with local criminal Solaiman Uddin Jisan.‘Jisan Bahini’ used to issue death threats to Mamun for obstructing their activities. Dhaka court sentences Arav Khan to 10 years' jail in arms caseHowever, Jisan died in a ‘gunfight’ with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab). Following the death of Jisan, Tuhin, a young brother of Jisan, used to lead ‘Jisan Bahini’. Mamun assisted the police to arrest the members of ‘Jisan Bahini’.As a sequel to the enmity, Manun was shot dead by the convicts on May 18, 2015.Fakhrul Islam, brother of Mamun, filed a case with Chandraganj Police Station against 10 identified and 14-15 unidentified people.Police submitted a chargesheet against 21 people on September 10, 2016.After examining records and witnesses, the court alos acquitted two people as allegations brought against them could not be proved.

A Faridpur court on Monday convicted five people and sentenced them to death for killing a jute mill worker after rape in 2019. The condemned convicts are—Chunnu Shikdar, Nazmul Hossain, Islam Mir, Atier Molla and Nasir Khan Nayon of Madhukhali upazila. Faridpur Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Hafizur Rahman handed down the punishment. 4 sentenced to death for murder in Sylhet 22 years ago The court also fined them Tk 1 lakh each. According to the prosecution, Chunnu, a human hauler driver, took Kajol Rekha Kajoli, 32, a worker of Rajdharpur Pride Jute Mill in Madhukhali upazila, to a banana orchard at Rajdharpur when she was returning to her home around 11:30 pm after completing overtime duty on October 15, 2019. Man gets death penalty for killing wife in Dinajpur The four other convicts saw them and they also violated the woman in turns. Later, they strangled the woman to death with a scarf and fled the scene. On the following day, police recovered the body from the spot. Security guard stabbed to death in Dhaka's Agargaon Kallyani Biswas, mother of Kajol filed a case with Madhukhali Police Station. On December 31, 2019, police submitted chargesheet against five people.    

A tribunal on Sunday sentenced two people to death for killing a gardener of a nursery in Cantonment area of the capital in 2001.The convicts were Mustafizur Rahman alias Liton, owner of the nursery and Anwar Hossain alias Anarul. They were tried in absentia.Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 M Ali Ahmed pronounced the judgment. 6 get death sentence for raping teenage girl in Khulna   One Abu Taher along with Mustafizur Rahman started nursery business after taking a land on lease near Kurmitola. Mustafizur used to oversee recruitment and salary issues of nursery staff.On September 5, 2001, Mustafizur did not find Abul Hossain, head gardener, in the nursery and came to know that he went to a hospital to see one of his relatives. Himadri murder in Ctg: HC upholds death sentences of 3, acquits 2On September 7, 2001, Abul Hossain’s body was found in a manhole. Mustafizur and Anwar were arrested in connection with the murder but they went into hiding after securing bail.A case was filed in this connection and police submitted chargesheet against Mustafizur and Anwar on November 11, 2001. Man gets death sentence for killing and raping girl in ChattogramAfter examining the records and witnesses, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 M Ali Ahmed handed down the punishment.

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to singer Mainul Ahsan Noble in a fraud case filed with Motijheel Police Station. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin passed the order till the submission of a chargesheet on bond of Tk 5,000. Earlier in the day, DB inspector also the investigating officer of the case Humayun Kabir produced him before the court after completion of his one-day remand in the case. Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun stood for Noble. Md Safayet Islam filed a case on May 16 on behalf of Shariatpur’s Vedorganj Headquarter Pilot High School’s HSC 16th batch. Later, a court granted one-day remand to Noble on May 20. Also read: Airhostess, musicians blamed for Noble’s drug addiction According to the case details, Noble received TK 1.72 lakh for performing at the high school’s reunion programme but he didn’t perform at the event organised for April 28 and he did not even return the money. Earlier, his ex-wife Salsable Mahmud complained to the police and wrote on social media about the constant physical and emotional abuse of Noble, citing that he is an avid drug addict and his demeanour got drastically changed in recent years due to his addiction. Noble won the 2nd runner-up position in the popular Indian TV reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’s West Bengal edition on Zee Bangla in 2019 and received the "Viewer's Choice" award, winning hearts in both countries. However, his addiction led him to several miserable acts one after another, degrading his popularity among his audiences.  

Pakistan braced for more turmoil a day after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was dragged from court in Islamabad and his supporters clashed with police across the country. The 70-year-old opposition leader appeared in court Wednesday for a hearing in which a judge was asked to approve keeping him in custody for up to 14 days. Khan, who lost power last year but remains the country's most popular opposition figure, is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. His arrest deepened political turmoil and sparked violent demonstrations on Tuesday. At least one person was killed in the southwestern city of Quetta, and dozens were wounded in various parts of the country. The judge is expected to rule on the request for a 14-day detention later on Wednesday, officials said. Khan earlier in the day met with his legal team at the court in the capital, Islamabad. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party called for demonstrators to remain peaceful, hours after mobs angered over the dramatic arrest set fire to the residence of a top army general in the eastern city of Lahore. Khan was appearing in court on multiple graft charges brought by Islamabad police Tuesday, when dozens of agents from the National Accountability Bureau backed by paramilitary troops stormed the courtroom, breaking windows after Khan's guards refused to open the door. Khan’s supporters attacked the military’s headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near the capital, Islamabad, but did not reach the main building housing the offices of army chief Gen. Asim Munir. Other demonstrators tried to reach the prime minister's residence in Lahore, but were driven off by baton-wielding in police. Others attacked vehicles carrying troops and hit armed soldiers with sticks. So far, police and soldiers have not fired at protesters. The military has not commented on the attacks on its facilities. A police statement Wednesday said officers in eastern Punjab province have arrested 945 Khan supporters since Tuesday — including Asad Umar, a senior leader from Khan's party. Dozens of Khan supporters were also detained in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and elsewhere. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, senior vice president from Khan’s party, appealed for peaceful demonstrations Wednesday, urging followers: “Don’t damage public property, don’t attack offices, as we are peace lovers.” He said the party is considering challenging Khan's arrest in the Supreme Court. On Wednesday morning, police said that at least 2,000 protesters still surrounded the fire-damaged residence in Lahore of Lt. Gen. Salman Fayyaz Ghani, a top regional commander. They chanted slogans at the military, including “Khan is our red line and you have crossed it.” Ghani and his family members were moved to a safer place when the mob on Tuesday first attacked their sprawling house. Police deployed in force across the country, and placed shipping containers on a road leading to the sprawling police compound in Islamabad where Khan is being held. Khan will appear before a judge in the same compound later today, in a temporary court placed there for security reasons, according to a notice from the government. Babar Awan, a lawyer for Khan, said that he is trying to get to the courtroom. Amid violence, Pakistan Pakistan’s telecommunication authority on Tuesday blocked social media, including Twitter. The government also suspended internet service in the capital of Islamabad and other cities. Classes at some private schools were canceled for Wednesday. Rights group Amnesty International said it was alarmed by reports of Pakistani authorities blocking access to mobile internet networks and social media. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are suspended in the country for a second day. The group has urged authorities to show restraint, saying clashes between law enforcement and Khan’s supporters risk human rights violations. The National Accountability Bureau has detained and investigated former officials, including former prime ministers, politicians and retired military officers. But some view the NAB as a tool used by those in power, especially the military, to crack down on political opponents. When Khan was in power, his government arrested Sharif, then the opposition leader, through the NAB. Sharif was facing multiple corruption cases when he managed to oust Khan in a 2022 no-confidence vote. The charges were later dropped, citing a lack of evidence. The current prime minister’s brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also served as prime minister, was arrested several times on corruption allegations. In March, police stormed Khan’s Lahore residence, seeking to arrest him in a corruption case related to hiding income from the sale of official gifts. Dozens of people, including police, were injured in ensuing clashes. Khan was not arrested at the time and later obtained bail. As violence spread Wednesday, diplomats from various countries and common people in Pakistan stayed home. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad canceled all its Wednesday consular appointments following Khan’s arrest and issued a nationwide alert, telling Americans to review their personal security plans and avoid large crowds.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Tuesday as he appeared in court to face charges in multiple graft cases, a dramatic escalation of political tensions in the country that sparked demonstrations by his supporters in at least three cities. Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 but remains the leading opposition figure, was dragged from the Islamabad High Court by security agents from the National Accountability Bureau, said Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Khan was shoved into an armored car and whisked away. Chaudhry denounced the arrest of the 71-year-old former cricket star as “an abduction.” Pakistan’s independent GEO TV broadcast video of Khan being hauled away. Afterward, a scuffle broke out between Khan’s supporters and police outside the court. Some of Khan’s lawyers and supporters were injured in the melee, as were several police, Chaudhry said. Khan’s party complained to the court, which requested a police report explaining the charges for Khan’s arrest. Also Read: Pakistan: Police storm Imran Khan home in Lahore, arrest 61 Khan was taken to the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, for questioning at the offices of the National Accountability Bureau, according to police and government officials. He also was to undergo a routine medical checkup, police said. Khan had arrived at the Islamabad High Court from nearby Lahore, where he lives, to face charges in the graft cases. He has denounced the cases against him, which include terrorism charges, as a politically motivated plot by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, saying his ouster was illegal and a Western conspiracy. Khan has campaigned against Sharif and demanded early elections. Tuesday’s arrest was based on a a new warrant from the National Accountability Bureau obtained last week in a separate graft case for which Khan had not obtained bail, making him vulnerable to arrest. He is scheduled to appear before an anti-graft tribunal on Wednesday, officials said. “Imran Khan has been arrested because he was being sought in a graft case,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a news conference. He alleged Pakistan’s treasury had lost millions of dollars while Khan was in office due to illegal purchases of lands from a business tycoon. As the news of the arrest spread, about 4,000 of Khan’s supporters stormed the official residence of the top regional commander in Lahore, smashing windows and doors, damaging furniture and staging a sit-in as troops there retreated to avoid violence. The protesters also burned police vehicles and blocked key roads.. Protesters also smashed the main gate of the army’s headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where troops exercised restraint. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted pro-Khan slogans as they moved toward the sprawling building. In the port city of Karachi, police swung batons and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters who had gathered on a key road. Raoof Hasan, another leader from Khan’s party, told Al Jazeera English television that the arrest is “blatant interference in the judicial affairs by the powers-that-be.” Hasan added that Khan “was virtually abducted from the court of law.” Khan’s arrest came hours after he issued a video message before heading to Islamabad, saying he was “mentally prepared” for arrest there. Also Read: Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan no-show in court, avoids arrest Khan was wounded by a gunman at a rally in November, an attack that killed one of his supporters and wounded 13. He has insisted, without offering any evidence, that there is a plot to assassinate him, alleging that Pakistan’s spy agency was behind the conspiracy. The gunman was immediately arrested and police later released a video of him in custody, allegedly saying he had acted alone. In a strongly worded statement Monday, the military accused Khan of “fabricated and malicious allegations” of its involvement in the November shooting, saying they are “extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.” Also Read: More clashes in Pakistan as police try to arrest Imran Khan The military has directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of the 75 years since the country gained independence from British colonial rule, and wields considerable power over civilian governments. Sharif, whose government faces spiraling economic woes and is struggling to recover from last year’s devastating floods that killed hundreds and caused $30 billion in damage, slammed Khan for assailing the military. “Let this be abundantly clear that you, as former prime minister, currently on trial for corruption, are claiming legitimacy to overturn the legal and political system,” Sharif tweeted after Khan’s arrest. Khan is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and hanged in 1979. The current prime minister’s brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also served as prime minister, was arrested several times on corruption allegations. In March, police stormed Khan’s Lahore residence, seeking to arrest him based on a court order in a different case. Dozens of people, including police, were injured in ensuing clashes. Khan was not arrested at the time and later obtained bail in the case. Khan came to power in 2018 after winning parliamentary elections and had initially good relations with the military which gradually soured.