United News of Bangladesh

In a major recruitment drive, Bangladesh's Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has appointed 1,299 government law officers to courts across 25 districts from November 3 to 13. This includes Government Pleaders (GPs), Additional Government Pleaders, Assistant Government Pleaders, Public Prosecutors (PPs), Additional Public Prosecutors and Assistant Public Prosecutors. Besides, the Ministry appointed 20 more lawyers as special public prosecutors (PPs) for explosive-related cases under the Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) court cases. Among the newly appointed officers, significant numbers were allocated to districts such as Munshiganj (30), Lakshmipur (41), Feni (47), Naogaon (62), Noakhali (75), Manikganj (48), Narsingdi (61), Tangail (151), and Rajshahi (124). Other districts included Chapainawabganj (26), Gazipur (71), Magura (31), Narail (14), Chuadanga (33), Gopalganj (18), Kushtia (55), Habiganj (38), Barguna (41), Bandarban (9), Rangamati (7), Chandpur (52), Patuakhali (78), Gaibandha (45), Jamalpur (64) and Pabna (78), according to an official media release. These officers will serve in their respective District and Sessions Courts, as well as various levels of tribunals and special judge courts. The Solicitor Wing of the Ministry's Law and Justice Division issued separate appointment orders on November 3, 10, and 13, with Sana Md Mahroof Hossain, Deputy Solicitor (GP-PP), signing the orders. These appointments revoke the positions of previously assigned law officers in the respective districts, relieving them from their duties to allow the newly appointed officers to assume their roles. This decision is seen as a measure to streamline the judicial process by introducing fresh appointments to the critical posts within district courts and special tribunals across the nation

The Ministry of Land has issued a circular directing the authorities concerned to take immediate action against employees of the ministry if found involved in corruption or irregularities in the delivery of land services. The circular, signed by Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed of the ministry, was issued on November 11. The circular, titled "Mandatory guidelines for employees to ensure transparency, accountability, and public-friendly land services," focused on the government's commitment to modernising land management processes and checking corruption. Among the measures aimed at improving service delivery are initiatives like the provision for e-name registration and online land development tax payments, designed to make services more efficient and accessible, it said. In response to widespread allegations of irregularities and corruption in the land service process, the government took measures to ensure hassle-free services for service seekers. The five directives are every employee must ensure transparency and accountability in the service delivery process. Any delays, negligence, or excuses will be considered misconduct and will lead to disciplinary action. Besides, employees must take a strong stance against corruption and irregularities. Employees are expected to treat service recipients with respect and respond to their inquiries and problems in a timely and sincere manner. Any inappropriate behavior or misconduct will not be tolerated. The public has the right to accurate information to help them make informed decisions regarding their property and land matters and employees should provide up-to-date and correct information related to land services. The Ministry mandates thorough supervision and regular inspections of land services to ensure proper service delivery. Comprehensive inspection reports must be prepared and submitted on time to the relevant authorities. It has called on all employees to demonstrate transparency, honesty, and dedication in their work to improve public services, said the circular.

Three members of the Detective Branch of police were injured in an attack allegedly by drug peddlers during an anti-drug drive in Khulna’s Terokhada upazila on Wednesday night. The injured are Assistant Sub-Inspector Moinuddin, and constables Tabibur and Shamim. Of them, the ASI was hospitalized at Khulna Medical College Hospital as he sustained head innuries. Sources said a three member DB team conducted a drive on Kola Bazar of the upazila around 11 pm; they came under attack by drug peddlers, leaving the three injured. Officer-in-Charge of district DB Nurul Islam said three men have already been arrested in this connection. A process was underway to take legal actions against the accused, he added.

The High Court (HC) on Thursday declared the immunity provision in Section 9 of the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act-2010 as “illegal and unconstitutional.” The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the rule. On September 2, the court issued a rule questioning the legality of the immunity provision in Section 9 of the act. Senior lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik accompanied by Barrister Cynthia Farid submitted the petition challenging the validity of the immunity related to quick rental and the purchase provision in Section 6(2). Read: ‘Quick rental power act’ extended to prolong ‘plundering’: BNP According to the section 9 of the act, no question can be raised before any court regarding the validity of any action, or any action deemed to have been done, any action taken and any order or direction given under this act. Section 6(2) of the act reads that any planning or proposal related to the buying or investment decisions has to be approved by the energy minister and sent to the cabinet committee for approval after communicating and bargaining with one or more institutions following Section 7 of the Act.

A suspected smuggler was detained with eight pieces of gold bars in Sachibunia area of Khulna city late Wednesday, said police. The detainee is Abdul Awal, 36, son of Khalilur Rahman of Bhadarpur village under Chandina upazila of Cumilla. Md Touhiduzzaman, Officer-in-Charge of Labanchara police station, said they set up a checkpost in front of one Sefa Medical in Sachibunia area after being tipped-off that a consignment of gold would go to Satkhira border from Dhaka via Khulna. As per the information, police conducted a raid in a Satkhira-bound bus and detained him, he said, adding that though the accused initially refused to have gold with him, later it was detected in his stomach through a medical test. Legal actions against him were underway in this regard, the OC said.

A total of 2,460 kg of polythene have been seized, three factories sealed during an operation against polythene manufacturers in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar. The operation was carried out on Wednesday. The crackdown on polythene production will continue in the future, said Executive Magistrate Kazi Tamzid Ahmed, who led the operation with support from the army, RAB, and police.

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 2,131 cases and imposed fines totalling Tk 77,65,500 during operations targeting traffic rule violations on Wednesday. The fines were for various offences, including speeding, illegal parking, and driving without the necessary documentation or safety measures, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, in a media release on Wednesday. In addition, 240 vehicles were seized and impounded, while 68 others were towed due to poor driving practices, he added.

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court (HC) seeking it directives to scrap all ‘one-sided’ power deals inked with Indian Adani Group. Supreme Court lawyer Barrister M Abdul Qaiyum lodged the petition in the public interest with the concerned section of the HC on Wednesday. An HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashis Roy Chowdhury may hold a hearing next Sunday, said the writ petitioner. On November 6, the lawyer sent a legal notice to the chairman to the Power Development Board (BPDB) and the secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, seeking review or cancellation the deals with Adani Group within three days. If the review work of the deals isn’t initiated within three days, a writ petition would be submitted in this regard, the notice reads. As the review work did not start within the stipulated time the petition was filed. The notice also called for the formation of a review committee comprising energy and legal experts to submit a detailed report. On September 28, the National Review Committee decided to collect data on 11 power plants. Instructions were given from the Power Division to provide these information and documents to the committee. This includes Adani's power plant in India. 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.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained 36 Bangladeshis including eight children for their alleged attempts to intrude into India through borders in Jhenaidah’s Maheshpur upazila, said the authorities on Wednesday. They were held in bordering Matila, Baghadanga, Samanta, Kholashpur, Paliyanpur and Sreenathpur areas of the upazila from Monday night to Tuesday afternoon, said a media release sent from the BGB-8 battalion on Wednesday morning. The border guards tightened vigilance along the borders after being informed that some locals would try to trespass into India, according to the release. Moreover, the BGB detained an Indian national while allegedly trying to intrude into Bangladesh, it reads. All the detainees were handed over to the Maheshpur police station to take legal actions, the release said. With the 36 detainees, the paramilitary forces have held 114 Bangladeshis in the current month for their alleged attempts to enter into India through borders.

In an overnight operation, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Wasim Uddin, a prime suspect in a long-standing sensitive rape case in Keraniganj area early Wednesday. This joint operation was conducted by teams from RAB-3 and RAB-10. The arrest took place in Keraniganj after Wasim, 47, son of the late Gias Uddin, evaded authorities by relocating from Wari, Dhaka. His residential address was listed as 65/C Narinda, Shah Saheb Lane, in Wari. According to preliminary investigation, Wasim first met the victim during the 2018 national election, when both were involved in election-related work. This encounter led to the development of a personal relationship, with Wasim allegedly proposing both love and marriage, even after being informed that the victim was a divorced woman. The suspect reportedly assured the victim of marriage, using the Holy Quran and an oath in the name of Allah to gain her trust, and subsequently engaged in physical relations with her multiple times at her rented residence and other convenient locations. Further investigations revealed that Wasim took advantage of the relationship by borrowing large amounts of money from various NGOs, using the victim as his supposed spouse. When the victim eventually confronted Wasim’s first wife and daughter regarding the marriage and financial matters, they assured her of a resolution. However, Wasim ultimately refused to marry or register a formal union with the victim. On October 10, 2024, the victim lodged a formal complaint against Wasim Uddin with Sabujbagh Police Station in Dhaka. The case was filed under Section 9(1) of the 2000 Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, citing the charge of rape under false promises of marriage. Following the filing of the case, Wasim fled the Wari area and went into hiding in Keraniganj. Legal proceedings against him are now underway, and further investigations by the authorities continue, according to a media release.