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.  

A Dhaka court on Tuesday (May 09, 2023) sentenced Mohammad Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, a Dubai-based gold dealer, to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment in an arms case filed in January 2015. Judge Murshid Ahmed of Dhaka Metro Special Tribunal-14 passed the order this noon, in absence of Arav Khan. In addition to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, Arav Khan was sentenced to a fine of Tk 10,000, in default of which he will have to serve another three months' imprisonment. Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) AKM Salahuddin confirmed the development. Read: Inspector Mamun murder case: 4 testify against Arav Khan, 7 others Earlier, on March 28, the court heard the testimonies of 10, out of 20, witnesses. Arav Khan could not claim his innocence as he was absconding. According to the prosecution, Arav Khan was arrested in January 2015, with a loaded revolver from Dhaka's Moghbazar area as he went to his father-in-law Sekendar Ali’s house to collect money at gunpoint. On the same day, Sujan Kumar Kundu, the then Sub-inspector of DB West's Car Theft Prevention and Rescue Team, filed a case against Arav Khan with Ramna Model Police Station under arms act. DB Police Sub-inspector Sheikh Hasan Mohammad Mostafa Sarwar, also the investigating officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against Arav Khan to the court on March 1, 2015. The tribunal framed charges against him on May 10. Read: Hero Alam ready to help DB find Arav He was granted bail in the case on March 14, 2018. The court issued an arrest warrant against Arav Khan on October 24, 2018 declaring him as "fugitive".

A Cumilla court on Thursday convicted five people and sentenced them to death for killing a Bangladeshi expatriate in the USA over land dispute in 2017. The condemned convicts are-Lipi Akter, Rahmat Ullah Rony, Kamal Hossain, Tajul Islam and Sajib of Sonaimuri upazila in Noakhali district. Of them, Lipi and Sajib were tried in absentia. Cumilla Additional District and Sessions Judge Nasrin Zahan handed down the punishment. According to the prosecution, Akbar Hossain Babul was found dead in a water body at Mudaffarganj in Laksham upazila on Noakhali-Cumilla regional highway on August 1, 2017 few days after he had returned home from the USA. Also read: Fugitive cop sentenced to 15 years in prison surrenders in court Fatema Begum, wife of Akbar, identified the body. Sheikh Milton Rahman, a sub-inspector of Laksham Police Station, filed a case against five people. Police arrested the five accused and of them, four people gave confessional statements under section 164. After examining the records and witnesses, Cumilla Additional District and Sessions Judge Nasrin Zahan handed down the judgement. END/UNB/Corr/MAS/FH

A Natore tribunal today sentenced six people to death and four to life imprisonment in a case filed over gang-rape of a college student in 2012. Those sentenced to death are: Sabbir Ahmed, Rezaul alias Rabbi, Nazmul Haque, Rajibul Hasan, Ripon and Shahidul. Those who got life imprisonment are: Manirul Islam, Khairul Islam, Ataul Islam and Rezaul Karim. Natore Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Muhammad Abdur Rahim handed down the punishment. The court also fined them Tk one lakh each which would be provided to the rape survivor. According to the prosecution, Sabbir Ahmed was in a relationship with a college student of Chandai village in Baraigram upazila of the district. On October 19, 2012, Sabbir took the girl to Kalam Mirzapur village. Later, he along with his friends raped the girl near Mirzapur Eidgah field. Also read: Fugitive cop sentenced to 15 years in prison surrenders in court The victim lodged a complaint in this connection and police registered a case with Baraigram Police Station. Police also submitted chargesheet against 11 people. After examining records and witnesses, Judge of Natore Women and Children Repression Tribunal handed down the punishment and acquitted one chargesheeted accused, Nasir, as allegation brought against him could not be proven. END/UNB/Corr/MAS/KW

Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams was taken to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court today, in connection with a case filed against him under Digital Security Act. A team of police took him to the court today (March 30, 2023) around 10:10 am. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am on Wednesday (March 29, 2023). The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" in the daily Prothom Alo. Also read; Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman sued under DSA Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said that members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the Prothom Alo reporter in a case. Meanwhile, opposition party BNP has denounced Shams' arrest, saying it is a "dreadful incident". Rights body Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation also condemned the arrest of the Prothom Alo journalist. Besides, editor of the leading daily Prothom Alo, Matiur Rahman, has been sued alongside other staff members under the Digital Security Act. Prothom Alo reported the development at 3:19 am today on its website. Read More: Prothom Alo editor sued under DSA

A Chapainawabganj court on Monday convicted three persons and sentenced them to death for killing a woman and her daughter over land dispute. Additional District and Session Judge Rabiul Islam pronounced the judgment. The condemned convicts were identified as Rubel, Humayun Kabir and Mahbub Alam. Of them Mahbub tried in absentia. The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each. According to the prosecution, Nasima Begum, wife of Nasiruddin, an expatriate in Saudi Arabia, of Up-Razarampur Kumarpara of Sadar upazila and her daughter Nila were killed by the convicts following an enmity over the ownership of a piece of land on August 31, 2012. Also read: Pirojpur PP apologises for misbehaving with chief judicial magistrate Police recovered the bodies of Nasima and Nila from their house on the following day. Taimur Rahman, father of Nasima lodged a complaint against six people with Sadar Police. Police registered a case later. Of the six accused, one of them died during the trial proceedings. After examining records and witnesses, the Additional District and Session Judge announced the judgment and acquitted two more accused as allegations brought against them could not be proved.    

A Joypurhat court on Tuesday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing his pregnant wife in 2007. The condemned convict is identified as Jewel Hossain, son of Jalil Hossain of Khetlal upazila in the district. Judge of the Additional district and Session Judge Court-2, Abbas Uddin pronounced the punishment. The court also fined him Tk 50,000.According to the prosecution, Jewel used to torture his wife Laili Begum for dowry. On July 23, 2007, the couple picked up a quarrel over the issue and at one stage, Jewel strangulated his s wife to death after torture when she was seven-month pregnant. Also read: 2 sentenced to death in absentia for murder in Gopalganj Rabeya Khatun, sister of Laili lodged a complaint against Jewel and Jewel’s parents with Khetlal Police. Police registered a murder case in this connection later. After examining records and witnesses, the court handed down the punishment and acquitted Jewel’s father and mother Lili Begum, as allegations brought against them could not be proved.      

A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced a man to imprisonment unto death and another one to life imprisonment for killing a seven-year-old boy in Kadamtoli of Shyampur upazila in the capital. The convict who was got jail unto death was Md Hanif while the lifer was Zahid Hossain. Judge of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-4, Mohammad Morshed Alam pronounced the judgement in absence of the convicts. Also read; 2 sentenced to death in absentia for murder in Gopalganj The court also fined Hanif Tk 50,000, in default, to suffer six months more rigorous imprisonment while fined Zahid Tk 5,000, in default, to suffer five months more in jail. The court also issued arrest warrants against them. According to the prosecution, the convicts took Abdullah, 7, son of Golam Mostafa of Kadamtoli area, to a fallow land near Ujala Match factory on September 21, 2016 and killed him with a stone. Mostafa, father of Abdullah, filed a case with Kadamtoli Police Station. Police on January 17, 2018, submitted chargesheet against the convicts.