The High Court on Sunday (August 06, 2023) asked the authorities concerned to investigate the allegations brought against S Alam Group over "transferring money abroad and investing in foreign countries without permission from Bangladesh Bank" and submit the report within two months. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the sue moto rule when Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, a prominent lawyer of the Supreme Court, drew the attention of the court after attaching a report published by The Daily Star with the headline "S Alam's Aladdin's lamp". High Court orders submission of list of top drug traffickers The HC also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a report to Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit after inquiring into whether there is any money laundering issue or whether S Alam Group took permission from Bangladesh Bank. It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the failure of the respondent to prevent the money laundering issue should not be declared illegal. The HC issued another rule asking the government to explain why directives should not be given to investigate the allegations against S Alam Group and why necessary steps should not be taken against the person and organisation involved in the incident. High Court orders investigation into alleged money laundering by Biopharma Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman was present, while senior lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan stood for ACC and Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled represented the state. Earlier, on August 4, The Daily Star published a report titled "S Alam's Aladdin's lamp". According to the report, S Alam Group owner Mohammed Saiful Alam has built a business empire in Singapore worth at least about USD 1 billion, although there is no record of him taking permission from Bangladesh Bank to invest or transfer any funds abroad. The central bank has so far allowed 17 companies to invest outside the country, and the Chattogram-based business giant is not on that list, says the report. Yet in Singapore, Alam bought at least two hotels, two homes, one retail space, and other properties over the last one decade, all the while seeking to remove his name from the paper trails, it adds. High Court questions hike in price of performing hajj "As of January 10, 2023, the central bank has cleared roughly about USD 40.15 million to be invested abroad globally, a Bangladesh bank document shows. The figure is 10 times less than what Alam has spent just to buy two hotels and one retail space – worth over USD 411.8 million – in Singapore since 2009," the report says. "The Bangladesh Bank document also shows that just over USD 107,000 have so far been sent to Singapore legally by a number of companies, and none of them is owned by Alam," The Daily Star report says.

A new executive committee of the Editors’ Council (Sampadak Parishad) has been formed with The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam as its President and Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud as the General Secretary. New Age Editor Nurul Kabir and Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shymal Dutta have been made Vice Presidents of the new committee. The council formed its fresh committee for the next two years at a meeting held at The Daily Star Centre on Sunday, said a press release on Monday. Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan was made Assistant General Secretary while Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury Treasurer of the committee. Besides, the five new committee members are Ittefaq Editor Tasmima Hossain, Ajker Patrika Editor Dr Golam Rahman, Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, Karatoa Editor Md Mozammel Haque and Dainik Azadi Editor MA Malek. READ: Matiur Rahman’s indictment: Editors’ Council voices concern At the beginning of the meeting, a one-minute silence was observed in honour and memory of Reazuddin Ahmed, a founding member of the organisation. The meeting also approved the inclusion of Ajker Patrika Editor Dr Golam Rahman as a new member and Samakal’s former Acting Editor Mustafiz Shafi as an associate member of the council. Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman played the role of chief election commissioner in forming the new committee. READ: Digital Security Act: Editors’ Council seeks amendment to 9 sections Mahfuz Anam was also president of the previous committee of the council while Bangladesh Protidin editor Naem Nizam the general secretary. As Naem Nizam resigned from the position of general secretary, Dewan Hanif Mahmud was appointed as the council’s acting general secretary in August last year.

The 15th death anniversary of meritorious journalist Novera Deepita will be observed on Tuesday. Novera Deepita, who worked with The Daily Star, passed away on July 27 in 2006. She was a gold medalist student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University. To mark the day, Novera's family will offer prayers at the Azimpur graveyard on Tuesday and provide charity to orphans, madrasas and the needy. Also read: Veteran journo Shahbuddin departs Moreover, the Novera Deepita Memorial Trust will award 'Novera Deepita Memorial Scholarship' to the student achieving the highest marks in BA (Hons) examinations under the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University when the university reopens. Also read: Journo Muhiuddin Ahmed dies