United News of Bangladesh

The High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former superintendent of police Babul Akter, one of the main accused in sensational Mahamuda Khanam Mitu murder case in Chattogram. The HC bench of Justice Md. Atowar Rahman and Justice Ali Raza passed the order following a hearing on the case. Due to the court order now there is no bar to Babul Akhter's release from jail, said his lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir. Monir said that the court granted bail considering his imprisonment for three years and seven months. Chinmoy arrested over sedition, not as community leader: Youth and Sports Adviser He also said that Babul had been unjustly dismissed from his job and filed a case with the administrative tribunal regarding the matter, which is still pending. “If he wins the case, there will be no barrier to get back the job,” added the lawyer. On June 5, 2016, Mitu was stabbed and shot dead when she was walking her son to his school bus stop at the port city's GEC intersection. On June 6, 2016, Babul filed a case with Panchlaish Police Station. On September 13, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) pressed charges against Babul Akter and six others in a case filed over the killing of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu. Abu Zafar Md Omar Faruk, inspector of PBI and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet to the prosecution unit of the Chattogram court. Mitu murder: Babul Akter’s bail hearing on August 18 The case was transferred to the Police Bureau Investigation (PBI) in 2019 after Mitu's father, himself a retired police officer, filed a complaint against the CMP's mishandling of the case. On May 12, 2021, the PBI submitted its final report and arrested Babul Akter in another case filed by Mitu’s father and since then he has been in prison. Babul Akhter also filed a no-confidence petition against the PBI report on October 14, 2021. On November 3 last year, a Chattogram Court rejected the final report of PBI in the murder case and ordered it to conduct further investigation.

Lawyers in Chattogram went on a two-day strike on Wednesday to protest the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif amid clashes among members of law enforcement agencies, lawyers, and followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote. The court activities remained suspended since morning and the lawyers gathered on the court premises to demand the immediate arrest of the perpetrators, said witnesses. Besides, thousands of people joined the namaz-e-janaza of Saiful Islam on the court premises at 10 am and at Jamiatul Falah National Mosque ground at 11:30 am. A protest rally was staged where lawyers voiced their outrage and sought justice for their slain colleague. Land Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Jamaat-e-Islami Chattogram Metropolitan Ameer Shahjahan Chowdhury, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Russell Ahmed, and Talat Mahmud Rafi, among others, joined the protest rally. Later, leaders from various political parties and student coordinators described Hindu religious organisation ISKCON as a fundamentalist militant group and demanded an immediate ban on ISKCON's activities in Bangladesh. Read: 33 arrested over lawyer murder, violence in Ctg They warned of continued protests if their demands are not met. Lawyer Saiful Islam was killed amid clashes among police, lawyers and supporters of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on Tuesday after the court rejected the leader’s bail in a sedition case. Witnesses said unidentified people took him to nearby Jangal Cinema Lane on the ground floor of the court, beat him up and then hacked him to death. The unrest began when thousands of his followers of Chinmoy gathered on the court premises and obstructed the prison van carrying him, demanding his immediate release.

The High Court on Wednesday acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two others in the Zia Charitable Trust case.The High Court bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain passed the order after accepting a petition filed by Khaleda's lawyers.The HC also scrapped the lower verdict that sentenced Khaleda and two others in the same case BNP delegation to meet Chief Adviser this evening Two others who got acquittal are Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary to Harris Chowdhury, ex-political secretary of then prime minister Khaleda Zia, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka. Senior Advocate Jainul Abedin and Advocate Barrister Kaiser Kamal stood for Khaleda Zia while Advocate Asif Hasan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Asif Hasan said the court granted petitions of four people including Khaleda Zia and scrapped their jail sentences. On November 20, the hearing on the appeal petition filed challenging the punishment in the case started while permission was given on November 3 for preparing the paper book of the case. On October 29, 2018, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5 sentenced BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment each in the much-talked-about Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. Khaleda Zia to visit US Embassy this afternoon to complete visa process The court also fined them Tk 10 lakh each, in default, to suffer six months more in jail. On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources. In 2012, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted chargesheet against them

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the Hindu community leader and former head of ISKCON in Bangladesh was arrested on charges of sedition, not as a community leader, clarified Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Local Government. He made the statement during a meeting held on Tuesday at Chawla Union, Pirgacha Upazila of Rangpur, where winter clothes were distributed among the needy. Asif Mahmud said, "The government will take strict action against any act of sedition that threatens Bangladesh's sovereignty and independence. We want to make it clear that anyone involved in such acts, regardless of their status or leadership position, will not be spared." He emphasized that law enforcement actions are taken based on national security, not community considerations. Addressing regional disparities, the adviser said, "Previously, development was concentrated in areas associated with prime ministers or ministers. We aim to eliminate such inequities and ensure balanced development across the country." During the event, around 600 winter garments and blankets were distributed to underprivileged families. Afterward, the adviser visited the Panialen Ghat area in Rangpur’s Pirgacha and Kurigram’s Ulipur to inspect the proposed site for a bridge over the Teesta River.

The Hindu community in Faridpur was barred from holding a protest demanding the release of their spiritual and former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in a sedition case. The minority made the attempts to stage the protests several times in the district headquarters on Tuesday afternoon after a Chattogram court denied his bail in the case. At first, the minorities took position in front of Faridpur Press Club and left the scene in a procession when police barred them. Later, the minorities tried to bring out another procession from Jagatbandhu Anghina but faced a barrier from the law enforcers who allegedly took away a banner from the protesters. Sattya Chaintyo Das Bramachhari, principal of Faridpur ISKCON, alleged that law enforcers obstructed them from holding the protest programmes against the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das. He said they would continue the movement until their leader is released. Earlier on Tuesday, clashes erupted between police and Hindu community people on a Chattogram court premises after the court rejected bail for the former ISKCON leader. The unrest began when thousands of his followers gathered on the court premises and obstructed the prison van carrying him, demanding his immediate release around 12 pm. Chinmoy Krishna was arrested in Dhaka airport area on Monday evening by the Detective Branch (DB) police in connection with a sedition case filed at Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser, Zainul Abedin Farroque, in a case related to non-submission of a wealth statement. Judge SM Ziaur Rahman of the Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's Court announced the verdict, citing a lack of evidence to prove the charges against Farroque. The BNP leader was present in court during the verdict. Farroque said, “The freedom earned through the sacrifices of students and citizens has been upheld through this verdict. I dedicate this acquittal to those who restored democratic rights through student movements. I hope our judiciary remains independent.” Constitutional Reform: BNP submits 62 proposals, seeks retention of VP, DPM According to the case details, Farroque, while serving as a lawmaker for Noakhali-1 constituency, was issued a notice by the then Anti-Corruption Bureau, or ACB, the precursor to the ACC, to submit a wealth statement for himself and his family. The notice, served between July 9 and August 22, 1999, provided 45 days for compliance. However, he failed to submit the statement. On January 19, 2000, Aminul Islam, an inspector of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, filed the case against Farroque. The charge sheet was submitted on June 17, 2001, by Imdadul Haque, another inspector of the bureau. Formal charges were framed against Farroque on March 23, 2006.

A lawyer was hacked to death amid clashes between police and Hindu community people on a Chattogram court premises on Tuesday after the court rejected bail to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in a sedition case. Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Fazlul Qader said advocate Saiful Islam Alif was declared dead when he was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital around 3pm. Witnesses said unidentified people took him to nearby Jangal Cinema Lane on the ground floor of the court, beat him up and then hacked him to death. The unrest began when thousands of his followers gathered on the court premises and obstructed the prison van carrying him, demanding his immediate release around 12 pm. After nearly three hours of deadlock, police lobbed teargas shells, fired sound grenades and charged batons to disperse the protesters, said witnesses. Ctg court premises turns violent over denial of ex-ISKCON leader’s bail Chinmoy, also spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, was produced before the Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court earlier in the day. The court sent Chinmoy to jail and fixed Wednesday morning for his bail hearing again. Witnesses said hundreds of people gathered outside the court at noon to prevent the prison van from leaving. Chinmoy Krishna was arrested in Dhaka airport area on Monday evening by the Detective Branch (DB) police in connection with a sedition case filed at Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram. The case was filed by local BNP leader Firoz Khan who was later expelled from the party.

Police today arrested a man with Saudi Riyal worth Tk 2.93 crore from a flight of US Bangla at Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport. The arrestee was identified as Dulal Jamaddar. Ibrahim Khalil, a public relations officer at the airport, said Dulal boarded a Dubai-bound US-Bangla Airlines flight on Tuesday. Suspecting the movement of the passenger, the crew challenged him and seized 9.21 lakh Saudi riyal (worth Tk 2.93 crore). Later, he was arrested. Efforts were on to take legal action against him.

Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, one of the key organizers of Ahinsha Gonabhutyhan (Non-violent Uprising), has been arrested by a team from the Cyber Crime Investigation Division of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit. He was apprehended on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 8:15 PM from the Shantinagar area of Dhaka based on confidential intelligence. According to CTTC sources, Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, who is a senior joint secretary and a prominent convener of the central committee of Ahinsha Gonabhutyhan, was taken into custody following a covert operation in the Shantinagar area. The arrested individual has been handed over to Shahbagh Police Station, and legal proceedings are underway against him.

A case has been filed against 8,000 students of different colleges including Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College, in connection with the vandalism at National Medical College and Hospital at Bakshibazar in Old Dhaka,  after the death of a student was blamed on ‘wrong treatment’ at the hospital. Sub-inspector AKM Hasan Mahmudul Kabir filed the case with Sutrapur Police Station on Sunday night. Demra student clashes leave 50 injured; Kabi Nazrul College shut indefinitely Charges including vandalism, two policemen injured, vandalising an armed personnel carrier and stealing a magazine of bullets, were brought against them, said Saiful Islam, in-charge of Sutrapur Police Station on Monday. On November 16, Abhijit Halder, an HSC student of Demra’s Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College, was admitted to the medicine department of the National Medical College and Hospital, attached to the National Medical College, with dengue. He died on November 18. After that students from Molla College and others vandalised the hospital, alleging negligence in treatment of Abhijit. They also claimed that students from Kabi Nazrul College and Suhrawardy College supported by National Medical College students attacked them. Medical Assistant Training School students block road in Bagerhat Later, students from as many as 35 colleges clashed with the students of Kabi Nazrul College and Suhrawardy College, and vandalised property of the two colleges on Sunday, leaving at least 20 people injured. The 35 colleges include Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Molla College, Dhaka College, Dhaka Ideal College, City College, Giyasuddin College, Government Tolaram College, Imperial College, Borhanuddin College, Science College, Dhaniya College, Lalbagh Government College, Udayan College, Adamjee, Notre Dame, Rajarbagh College, Nur Mohammad, Munshi Abdur Rouf College, Siddheswari College, Green Line Polytechnic, Dhaka Polytechnic, Mahbubur Rahman Institute of Science and Technology, and others from the capital.