Law-&-Order
Petition filed seeking closure of restaurants in residential buildings
A writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directives to close all restaurants in residential buildings in Dhaka including on Bailey Road.
Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ petition with the High Court bench concerned on Sunday (March 03, 2024).
Besides, the petition also sought directives to provide compensation to the family members of the deceased and injured in the Bailey Road fire and arrest of those responsible in the fire incident.
Read more: A city of fire traps: Decades of tragedies in Dhaka expose systemic failures
Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Israt Zahan Santona filed another writ petition with the High Court bench concerned seeking judicial investigation into the deadly fire at Green Cozy Cottage Building on Bailey Road that claimed the lives of 46 people.
The petitions will move to the HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque.
Secretaries to the Public Works Ministry, Cabinet Division, Home Ministry, Inspector General of Police, Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), nayors of Dhaka North and South city corporations were made responsible in the writ petitions.
Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings
On Thursday night, a massive fire broke out at a building on Dhaka's Bailey Road leaving at least 46 people dead and injuring dozens of people. Later, a case was filed with Ramna police station.
9 get life term for 2013 killing of farmer in Joypurhat
A Joypurhat court on Thursday sentenced nine people to life in prison for murdering a farmer over land dispute in Joypurhat Sadar upazila around 11 years back.
Joypurhat Additional Sessions Judge's Court-1 Judge Md Nurul Islam also fined the convicts Tk 50, 000 each, in default of which they will have to serve two more years’ jail, said a public prosecutor.
The convicts are Abdul Rouf, son of late Feraz Uddin, Ruhul Amin, son of Md. Ali, Ali Hossain and Khokon Hossain, sons of Abdur Rouf, Belal Hossain, son of late Asir Uddin, Rokon Hossain and Babu Hossain, sons of Akhtaruzzaman, Mizanur Rahman, son of late Abu Sayeed and Sirajul, son of Mizanur Rahman.
The court also acquitted two defendants as the allegations brought against them were not found to be true.
According to the case statement, the accused attacked victim Nurul Hoque and others when they were harvesting crops on land in Hichmi area of Joypurhat Sadar upazila on November 1, 2013, leaving them critically injured.
Nurul succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Medical College Hospital a few days after he had been admitted.
Later, the victim’s son Masum filed a murder case with Joypurhat sadar police station against 11 identified people and eight to 10 unidentified ones.
After completing legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment.
10 to die, 8 to serve life terms for 2016 killing of Jubo League man in Cumilla
A Cumilla court on Thursday sentenced 10 people to death and 8 more people to life term in jail in a case filed over the killing of a Jubo League man in Manoharganj upazila of Cumilla around 8 years back.
The court of Public Security Crime Prevention Tribunal Special Sessions Judge Maryam Moon Munjuri also fined the convicts Tk 10,000 each, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Md Mobarak Hossain.
The death row convicts are three brothers Riyad Hossain, 29, Mir Hossain, 37, and Anwar Hossain, 41, sons of one Tajul Islam; two more brothers Yusuf, 36, and Ismail Hossain, 35, sons of Shamsul Haque Patwari; Misu, 22, son of Saleh Ahmed, Rajon, son of Shahid Ullah Member, Manik Mia, son of another Tajul Islam, Md. Mizanur Rahman, son of Abul Hossain, and Md Nurul Islam, 42, hailing from Dakshin Batabaria village under the Manoharganj upazila.
The lifers are Noman, 23, son of Tajul Islam, Salah Uddin, 41, son of Sirajul Islam, Abul Kashem, 42, son of Haji Abdul Samad, Md Shahidullah Member, 55, son of Moulvi Ari Akbar, two brothers Saleh Ahmed, 32, and Md. Sohag, 26, sons of Nur Ahmed, Md Swapon, 35, son of late Shafiqur Rahman, and Md Rashed, son of late Sultan Ahmed.
Of the convicts, only the lifers were on the dock during the delivery of the judgment.
According to the case statement, the accused, equipped with locally-made sharp weapons, attacked the Jubo League man, Jahangir Hossain, at his house on May 13, 2016, leaving him dead on the spot.
Later, the victim’s brother Md Alamgir Hossain filed a murder case accusing 20 people with the concerned Manoharganj police station.
Police pressed chargesheets against 18 accused on June 8, 2017, while a court framed the charges against the accused on October 13, 2019.
After completing all legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment in presence of 10 out of the 18 accused on Thursday, added the PP.
‘Sexual harassment’: Viqarunnisa teacher lands in jail
A Dhaka court on Thursday sent Murad Hossain Sarkar, a mathematics teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College’s Azimpur campus, to jail in a case filed over sexual harassment of a female student.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim passed the order when police produced him before the court after the end of his two-day remand in the case.
The court also ordered the authorities concerned to take measures to give him treatment as per jail rules as the accused's lawyer pledged medical treatment.
‘Sexual harassment’: Viqarunnisa teacher on 2-day remand
Murad was arrested from his Kalabagan residence in the capital around 12 am on Monday. He was suspend after an emergency meeting of the governing body of Viqarunnisa School on Monday night.
Earlier, On February 7, students submitted complaints to the principal accusing the teacher of sexual harassment.
Last Saturday, the school authorities withdrew the senior teacher and subsequently attached him to the principal’s office in the face of the demonstration by a section of students and their guardians.
Protesting the withdrawal decision the following day, the students and their guardians started a protest on the school campus, demanding exemplary punishment of the accused.
Another sexual harassment complaint filed against DU prof. Naadir Junaid
Another sexual harassment complaint has been filed against Prof. Naadir Junaid of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University, who is currently on a three-month forced leave following the first official complaint filed against him.
A former student of another university in the capital filed the complaint with proctor office this morning, DU Proctor Prof. Md. Maksudur Rahman confirmed saying, “Previously, I received the complaint by e-mail and then received a physical copy this morning.”
“I forwarded a copy of the complaint to the Vice-chancellor’s office”, he added.
The student alleged the DU prof of sexual harassment and prolonged psychological abuse in the letter.
DU sends Naadir Junaid on 3 months' forced leave following sexual harassment complaint
The written complaint reads, “Naadir Junaid was our guest faculty and as a class representative I had to keep contact with him for academic purposes. But he used to call me in between 10 pm-12 am and tried to continue the calls for hours even though I was very uncomfortable."
The teacher tried to pursue her in phone calls of sexual nature, and questioned if something was wrong with her as she didn’t show interest, she wrote; which reflects a pattern of behaviour that was also mentioned in the first official complaint against him.
She also alleged that the teacher used to ask her personal questions about her female classmates.
She also mentioned the repercussion she had to face if she tried to avoid him, saying, "Whenever I tried to avoid him or showed indifference, every time I fell victim to his reaction and insults in the classroom."
Academic freeze: DU MCJ students start indefinite boycott of classes demanding investigation, suspension of Prof. Naadir Junaid
She also wrote, the teacher approached another classmate of her and few others in the department where he was a guest teacher.
Earlier, a female student of Dhaka University’s Mass Communication and Journalism department filed a sexual complaint against DU prof. Naadir Junaid on February 10.
Following this, the students of the department boycotted all academic activities and hung locks on the door of classrooms and the office of Naadir Junaid demanding justice .
On February 11, another female student of the same department filed a complaint against the prof. Naadir Junaid of trying to cover up sexual harassment allegation against a student of the same department.
SSC questions leaked before exam in Kurigram: Two individuals interrogated
On the face of the students' protest, the DU administration sent the Prof to 3 months' forced leave.
Prof. Naadir Junaid couldn’t be reached for a comment despite several attempts.
5 JMB men jailed for bomb attack on police in Bagerhat
A court in Bagerhat on Wednesday sentenced five members of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to different jail terms in a case filed over a bomb attack on police in Bagerhat in 2016.
Bagerhat Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Dr Md. Atiqus Samad handed down the verdict on Wednesday.
The convicts are Md. Jahirul Islam, son of Ashraful Ali Farazi of Raghunathpur village in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur, Maksudur Rahman alias Tota, Son of Jumman Ali Sardar of Garerkanda village in Satkhira district, Morshed Alam, son of Gias Uddin of Kashimpur village of the same district, Saiful Islam, son of Abdul Karim of Itagachha village of the same district, Tariqul Islam alias Tarek, son of Sohrab Hossain of Natoikhali village in Bagerhat district.
2 arrested on fraud charge over DU entry test question paper leak
The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more imprisonment, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Advocate Md. Shahiduzzaman said.
Of them, four accused were sentenced to six years and one accused to five years in prison, he added.
According to the case statement, on November 03, 2016, Bagerhat Model Police came to know that six to seven JMB members were staying in Gobardia area under the Daratana Bridge of Bagerhat Sadar and preparing to carry out subversive activities.
Double life sentence for man who abducted and raped teenager
When police reached there, JMB members hurled bombs and police opened fire in self-defence. Later, police arrested five JMB members from the spot.
On November 21, 2017, police submitted a charge sheet accusing five JMB members and charges were framed against the accused on May 2, 2019.
Graft case: HC upholds 14 years’ jail term of ex-DIG Mizan
The High Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court verdict that sentenced sacked Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Mizanur Rahman to 14 years' imprisonment in a case filed for amassing illegal wealth.
The HC bench of Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order.Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
On June 21 last year, a Dhaka court sentenced suspended Mizanur Rahman to 14 years' imprisonment in the case. Besides, Mizan's wife, brother and nephew were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment each in the case.
Viqarunnisa’s Azimpur campus math teacher arrested over ‘sexual harassment’
Later, the ex-DIG filed an appeal with the High Court against the verdict.
On June 24,2019 ACC director Monjur Morshed filed the case against DIG Mizan, his wife Sohelia Anar Ratna, nephew sub-inspector Mahmudul Hasan and younger brother Mahbubur Rahman.
According to the case statement, the ACC found that Mizan concealed information of wealth worth Tk 3.28 crore in his wealth statement.
After investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against them on January 30, 2020.
The former DIG, who was in jail in a corruption case, was dismissed from service on November 3, 2022.
Double life sentence for man who abducted and raped teenager
On October 20 of the same year, the court framed charges against Mizan and three others in the case.
Besides, Mizan was sentenced to three years in jail on February 23, 2022 for bribing an ACC official with Tk 40 lakh.
‘Sexual harassment’: Viqarunnisa teacher on 2-day remand
A Dhaka court has placed Murad Hossain Sarkar, a mathematics teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College’s Azimpur campus in Dhaka on a two-day remand in a case filed over sexual harassment of a female student.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Zaki-Al-Farabi granted the remand after Lalbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Faiyaz Hossain produced the accused before the court on Tuesday and pleaded for a seven-day remand.
Viqarunnisa’s Azimpur campus math teacher arrested over ‘sexual harassment’
Earlier, defence lawyer Shafiqul Islam Dipu and some others filed a bail petition seeking cancellation of the remand petition.
Murad was arrested from his Kalabagan residence in the capital around 12 am on Monday. The decision to suspend him was taken at an emergency meeting of the governing body of Viqarunnisa School on Monday night.
Earlier, On February 7, students submitted complaints to the principal accusing the teacher of sexual harassment.
Last Saturday, the school authority withdrew the senior teacher and subsequently attached him to the principal’s office in the face of demonstration by a section of students and their guardians.
Protesting the withdrawal decision the following day, the students and their guardians started a protest on the school campus, demanding an exemplary punishment of the accused.
Viqarunnisa’s Azimpur campus math teacher arrested over ‘sexual harassment’
A mathematics teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School & College’s Azimpur campus in Dhaka was arrested today, shortly after he had been suspended for alleged sexual harassment.
Binoy Kumar, duty officer of Lalbagh police station, said a police team arrested Mohammad Murad Hossain Sarkar from his Kalabagan residence early Tuesday.
On Monday evening, the mother of a student lodged a case against the morning shift teacher, alleging him of sexually harassing students at his coaching centre.
The educational institution’s Azimpur branch Acting Principal Keka Roy Chowdhury said they decided to suspend the teacher after holding a meeting of the governing body as the allegations brought against him were found to be primarily true.
Read: JU fires Johnny following prolonged probe into allegations of sexual harassment
Moreover, a decision was made to form a three member committee from the divisional commissioner’s office to investigate the incident, she said.
On February 7, students submitted complaints to the principal accusing the teacher of sexual harassment.
Last Saturday, the school authority withdrew the senior teacher and subsequently attached him to the principal’s office in the face of demonstration by a section of students and their guardians.
Protesting the withdrawal decision the following day, the students and their guardians started a protest on the school campus, demanding an exemplary punishment of the accused.
Read: DU sends Naadir Junaid on 3 months' forced leave following sexual harassment complaint
The guardians also held a press conference at the National Press Club the same day, demanding that the accused teacher be sacked.
On the other hand, rejecting the allegations, another section of students and their guardians announced to hold a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in favour of the senior teacher this morning.
Read more: Students place six-point demand protesting sexual harassment in BAU
DB nabs 23 members of alleged gang that made fake documents
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 23 members of an alleged gang that illegally made birth certificates, fake national identity cards and passports for Rohingyas and notorious criminals in the country.
Three Rohingyas, two members of Ansar Force and brokers are included among the 23 arrestees.
Seventeen passports, 13 fake NIDs, five computers, three printers, 24 mobile phones and hundreds of documents related to the making of passports were recovered from their possessions.
Divided into three parts, the arrestees used to get the fake birth certificates of criminals and Rohingya through the computer operators of various Union Parishad chairmen of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Shariatpur and Gopalganj. Later, he would make passports with this information to the Rohingyas.
The DB police arrested three Rohingya women and men, ten Bangladeshis with passports and computers conducting raids at Agargaon, Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, Badda in the capital on February 23.
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Later, based on their information, the detectives carried out drives in different areas of Cox's Bazar, Tangail and Dhaka on February 25. Two Ansar members, and eight middle men of the Rohingya and Bangladeshi brokers syndicate gang, were arrested during the drives.
The arrested Rohingyas were identified as Umme Chhalima Chhamira, Morijan and Md Rashidul. Middle men of Rohingya were known as Ayub Ali and Md. Mostakim. Ansar members were identified as Md. Jamsedul Islam and Md. Raihan. Bengali brokers were Raju Sheikh, Shaon Hossain alias Niloy, Feroz Hossain, Tushar Mia. The broker members of Agargaon, Mohammadpur and Uttara areas are Shahjahan Sheikh, Shariful Alam, Zobair Molla, Shimul Sheikh, Ahmed Hossain, Masud Alam, Abdul Alim, Masud Rana, Fazle Rabbi Shawon, Rajab Kumar Das Dipto, Al-Amin and Md Sohag.
Briefing reporters at DMP media centre on Monday, Additional Commissioner (DB) of the DMP Mohammad Haroon Or-Rashid dislosed it. DB Lalbagh Division DC (promoted to the post of Additional DIG) Moshiur Rahman was also present.
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During the briefing, the DB chief said that the syndicate members used to make birth certificates, NID cards and passports for Rohingya children, women and men in exchange of thousands of taka. The cycle has been doing this in three parts. A group of them brought Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachari to Dhaka. Another group makes birth certificate, NID cards for them. Finally, the other group arranges for money deposit, biometrics and photo taking through Ansar members in various regional passport offices including Dhaka.
He said, they usually charge Tk 5,000 to 12,000 for the birth certificate within six hours. Primarily they admitted that they used to charge 25 thousand taka to get NID within three days and 1 lakh 20 thousand taka to make passport.
The relevant soft documents, delivery slips of hundreds of passports were found in the mobile phones of the arrested brokers. Out of which 143 passports were made for Rohingyas in the last three months. The gang members also admitted to issuing passports to Rohingyas, Bangladeshi criminals under different names and addresses since 2019.
The top officer of the DMP's DB said that the arrested people used the use addresses of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj and Barisal districts to create birth certificates and NIDs and then make passports based on those documents.
Man to die, another gets life imprisonment for 2019 killing of child in Faridpur
Bangladesh has Rohingya database , digital birth certificate datas and smart NID data bank where various information including biometrics, images are stored. However, without any verification of this information, anyone can submit biometrics to deposit money through brokers and take photos for passports at the passport office on the basis of required documents. But it is possible to identify Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas immediately by scrutinising Rohingya data, digital birth certificate data and smart NID data before making passports.