United News of Bangladesh

The Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) on Tuesady summoned 13 officials of Bangladesh Bank over embezzlement of money through sanctioning thousands of crores of taka loan from Islami Bank Bangladesh to S Alam Group and its associates. Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, owner of M/s Murad Enterprise and United Super Traders, customers of the Jubilee Road branch of Islami Bank, Century Food Products, a customer of the Khatungonj branch, and others  embezzled money from the bank in the name of loans. Inquiry officer and ACC deputy director Yasir Arafat sent a letter to the governor of the central bank asking the 13 officials to appear at the ACC headquarters to give their statement over the allegations. Call for public input on reforming the anti-corruption commission ACC asked Bangladesh Bank Inspection Department joint directors Sunirban Barua, Anik Talukder, additional directors Shankar Kanti Ghosh, Salima Begum, deputy directors Md Jubair Hossain and Rubel Chowdhury to appear before it on November 20. Besides, the commission asked Bangladesh Bank Inspection Department joint director Syed M Arif-un-Nabi, additional directors Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Md Shoayeb Chowdhury, Md Manjur Hossain Khan and Md Abdur Rauf, deputy director Lenin Azad Palash and director Md Sarwar Hossain to appear on November 21. The commission summoned and interrogated 23 officials of Islami Bank Bangladesh on November 10, 11, and 12 over the same allegation while the ACC started an inquiry into allegations of money laundering against Mohammad Saiful Alam, alias S Alam, the owner of S Alam Group.

The High Court has ordered the authorities concerned  to form a high-powered committee to review all the power contracts signed by the Awami League government with India's Adani Group and submit a report within two months. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order on Tuesday after the hearing of a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer M. Abdul Qaiyum who sought the cancellation or revaluation of the deal, claiming it to be unfair. It also instructed the submission of all documents related to the power purchase deal between the  Power Division and Adani Group within the next month. The court issued a rule seeking explanation as to why the deal which is critised as unfair and against the country’s interests should not be annulled. 13 AL ex-ministers, advisers produced before ICT The court ordered inclusion of internationally renowned energy and legal experts in the high-powered committee to review the deal in detail. Besides, the court ordered the relevant authorities to form another committee to investigate the process of the agreement’s execution and submit a report to the court. During the hearing, lawyer M. Abdul Qaiyum, lawyers Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Afrroza Firoz, and Kamrun Mahmud stood for the petitioner. Earlier, on November 6, Abdul Qaiyum sent a legal notice to the Chairman of the Power Division and the Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Power and Mineral Resources seeking that the process of amending the agreement begin within three days. The notice warned that if the issue was not addressed, a writ petition would be filed in the High Court seeking necessary directives. Immunity provision in quick rental act illegal: High Court After no response to the legal notice, the writ petition was filed, urging the government to revise the terms of the agreement on the grounds of fairness, equity, and national interest. The petition also sought the annulment of the agreement if the Adani Group refused to make the changes. The government signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) in November 2017 with Adani Power under an unsolicited offer, to buy electricity from its 1600 MW power plant in Godda of Jharkhand. It started importing electricity from the plant in April 2023.

Former Member of Parliament for Dhaka-2 constituency and ex-Food Minister Advocate Qamrul Islam was arrested on Monday night (November 18). The arrest was made by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in Uttara Sector 12, confirmed Additional Police Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallik. “Former Food Minister Qamrul Islam has been arrested from Uttara in the capital. He is being brought to the DB office tonight,” said Rezaul Karim Mallik.

Police have arrested Rakibul Islam, alias Rocky, one of the associates of Jubo League leader Mainul Hossain Nikhil, in connection with the attempted murder of Moinul Islam Turja during the recent anti-discrimination student protests in Mirpur. Rocky, a member of the Jubo League in Mirpur's Ward No. 14, was apprehended from the Barabagh area of Mirpur at 3:45pm on Monday. According to police sources, Moinul Islam Turjo participated in the peaceful movement along with many other students and crowds in the anti-discrimination movement. Supporters of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations allegedly attacked the protesters, opening fire and throwing cocktail bombs. Turja sustained serious injuries, including a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was initially treated at the National Heart Institute before being transferred to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka for further treatment. Later, Turja filed a case at Mirpur Model Police Station on November 12. Rocky is currently in police custody, following a two-day remand granted by the court. Efforts are on to apprehend other suspects involved in the attack, sources added.

At least nine drug peddlers were arrested from Dhaka’s Korail slum area on Monday. According to ISPR, acting on a tip-off, a joint operation was conducted under the leadership of the Bangladesh Army's 14 Independent Engineer Brigade in the Korail slum area, and the suspects were arrested. During the operation, heroin and cash were recovered from their possession. Later, the arrested individuals, along with the recovered drugs and illegal money, were handed over to the police. The joint force operation led by the Bangladesh Army will continue to maintain law and order, ISPR added.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur said that the central bank will not allow any industries to be closed for the fault of its entrepreneurs. He said the institutions are national assets. Here, arrangements will be made to run the institutions whether the actual owner is there or not. Because many people are working in these institutions, they (companies) have a relationship with banks as they have a relationship with manufacturing, which cannot be separated. The governor said this while speaking at a press conference at the central bank headquarters on Monday to brief journalists on the latest update on the banking sector. He said Islami Bank is a turnaround and the bank collected around Tk5000 crore under the new board of directors restructured by the BB. Regarding S Alam and Beximco governor said, “We have to look at it from a different perspective. Individuals and institutions are different. But we will also try our best to prevent fund diversion.” Islami Bank to issue new shares, sell S Alam Group's seized ones  “I will not allow any industry to be shut down. It is very easy to shut down an industry, but building it is difficult and takes time. The country benefits from the institutions. So, we don't want to fail. We will not allow institutions to fail,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, the governor said, “Haste or emotion excites people for a short time. But running the country with emotions does not bring good results. I have to be realistic, and bring about change by formulating the right policies and implementing them.”  

Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNB) - Legal experts and activists have called for urgent reforms to discriminatory laws to sustain the nation's progress and uphold women's constitutional rights. The demand was made at a roundtable discussion titled “Bangladesh Constitution and Women”, held at the Begum Sufia Kamal Bhaban of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Monday. Advocate Salma Ali, President of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association, emphasized the critical need for legal reform and effective enforcement. “While laws against domestic violence exist, their implementation remains grossly inadequate,” she said. “We often approach the High Court for redressal of constitutional violations, but on-the-ground enforcement is where the real challenge lies. Has any government committee or university taken direct action on cases of sexual harassment?” She further criticized the outdated family laws, which she said perpetuate systemic gender inequality. “Since independence, we’ve abolished some discriminatory laws and created new ones, yet family laws remain highly biased. Without addressing these inequalities, we cannot fully ensure women’s constitutional rights or eliminate social, economic, and physical discrimination,” she explained. She also pointed to the lack of judicial independence and socio-economic barriers as significant obstacles. “Government apathy, coupled with judicial constraints, has kept women from achieving the equality promised by our Constitution.” Advocate Maksuda Akter Laily highlighted how women have been historically marginalized despite their significant contributions to the country’s history. “Women were acknowledged during the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War, but often as ‘Birangana’ (war heroines) rather than ‘Bir Muktijoddha’ (freedom fighters),” she said. “Why should women, who contribute so much to family and society, be denied equal rights as citizens? Article 27 of the Constitution guarantees equality, but that remains far from reality for most women.” She also condemned the rise in mob justice incidents, which she said undermine the rule of law and the Constitution. “Mob justice tarnishes our legal system and fails to deliver the equality we fought for.” Laily urged the government to honor its commitment to gender equality. “We hoped for equality from this government, and it is high time they ensured it becomes a reality,” she added. Participants also discussed the progress women have made in education, contrasting it with persistent workplace discrimination. The underrepresentation of women in governance was another focal point. “Women continue to be denied significant roles in decision-making. Given the chance, they could play a transformative role in shaping the country’s future,” one speaker argued. The event featured several prominent speakers, including Dr. Rownak Jahan, an academic and researcher; Dr. Shahdin Malik, a constitutional expert and Supreme Court lawyer; Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, Advocate Amit Dasgupta, and Professor Imran Azad from the Bangladesh University of Professionals. They echoed the urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms to eliminate gender discrimination.        

Victory Day is for everyone and not just for any specific group, said Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, assuring that there are no possible threats to law and order during the upcoming celebrations. The adviser made the statements on Monday following a security meeting at the ministry's conference room at the Secretariat ahead of the Victory Day. “December 16 marks our glorious Victory Day. Today's meeting was convened to ensure that the day can be celebrated smoothly and without incident. We are confident that there will be no disruptions to the law and order situation,” he said. To facilitate smooth movement for those visiting the National Memorial to pay their respects, traffic police will work to prevent congestion, he added. Read: No security threats for Pahela Baishakh: IGP Highlighting uniformity in observances, the adviser said that only flags of the correct design and colour should be hoisted. “In some cases, flags of varying designs and colours are displayed. This must not happen. Uniform flags will be hoisted everywhere, and significant locations will be adorned with appropriate lighting,” he said. Regarding the overall security scenario, he reiterated that there are no imminent threats. “December 16 is a day for everyone. There is no security risk surrounding this occasion, and the country’s law and order remain stable.”

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered its investigation agency to submit reports within one month in two cases filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others over the killings and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising. The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order, said tribunal’s chief prosecutor Advocate Md Tajul Islam. Besides, the court ordered the investigation agency to update it about the absconding accused and set December 17 for holding a hearing over the matter, he said. Read: ICT chief prosecutor writers to IGP over Interpol red notice for Hasina, others Earlier in the morning, 13 accused, including nine former ministers of the ousted Awami League government, were produced before tribunal in cases over the killings during the student-led mass movement. ICT chief prosecutor Md Tajul Islam said they were produced before the tribunal after showing them arrested in cases over crimes against humanity. All the accused are now behind the bars in other cases, he added. Read: 13 AL ex-ministers, advisers produced before ICT Those who were produced before the tribunal were former law minister Anisul Huq, civil aviation and tourism minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haq Inu, former state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former prime minister's power, energy and mineral resources adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. Ex-minister Dr Dipu Moni, Hasina’s adviser and businessman Salman F Rahman, former minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former home secretary Jahangir Alam and former minister Dipu Moni were among them. Though former agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzak was supposed to be produced with the above ones, he could not be produced due to his illness. Earlier, on October 27, the ICT ordered the 14 accused to be produced on November 18. Besides, the court ordered former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun, former army official Ziaul Ahsan, former police officials Abdullah Al Kafi, Arafat Hossain, Abul Hasan and Mazharul Islam be produced on November 20. Various complaints, including that of killings, torture, abduction and harassment, were lodged with the ICT after the Sheikh Hasina-led regime was toppled on August 5. Read more: We’ll seek repatriation of dictator Sheikh Hasina: Prof Yunus Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam wrote to IGP Md Moinul Islam to take initiatives to issue red notice through Interpol to bring back former PM Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives. Over 1,000 people were killed and many injured during the July and August uprising which began as protests over government jobs and later escalated into an anti-government movement, leading to widespread violence and the end of Hasina's 15-year rule.

A court in Natore on Monday sentenced a house tutor to life term in jail in a case over raping a class five student in Sadar upazila around six years back. Natore Women and Children Repression and Prevention Tribunal Judge Muhammad Abdur Rahim pronounced the verdict and also fined the convict, Hazrat Ali, 45,  Tk 50, 000 . According to the case statement, the accused took the girl to his house on the pretext of taking a special class in Bagroom village in Sadar upazila on July 8, 2018. Later, the victim’s father filed a case against him with the concerned police station. After completing legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment in his presence.