United News of Bangladesh

Former national cricket captain and Narail-2 MP Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been sued in a case along with 594 others, including his father, Golam Mortaza Swapan, over attack on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on August 4 The case was filed at Lohagara Police Station on Monday night, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lohagara Police Station Md. Ashiqur Rahman on Tuesday. Mashrafe sued over hostile takeover of shares in BPL franchise The other accused include district leaders of the Awami League and Chhatra League, among others. Kazi Md. Yajur Rahman Babu, chief organiser of the Narail district unit of the movement, filed the case naming 295 individuals alongside approximately 300 unnamed persons. Mashrafe joins Sylhet, Mahmudullah stays with Barishal as BPL teams finalize rosters The accused, associated with the Awami League and its affiliates, carried out the attack on August 4. The incident reportedly occurred at the C&B Intersection in Lohagara upazila during a programme organised by the students, Babu alleged. According to the case statement, 15-20 students, including the plaintiff, were injured as the attackers used machetes, bamboo sticks, and iron rods. The attackers also allegedly detonated explosives to disperse the students. Mashrafe set to play US Masters T10 League Investigations were underway, said the OC.

A Chattogram court on Tuesday sent eight accused arrested in connection with the clashes and vandalism during over ex-ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna’s  bail denial on a five-day police remand. The court passed the order when police produced the accused before the court of Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Alamgir Hossain amid tight security and sought their remand. Chinmoy Das’ bail hearing deferred to January 2 They were sent on a six-day remand on December 4 following their arrest. On November 26, the supporters of Chinmoy Krishna Das engaged in violent clashes with police and others on the court premises when the court rejected his bail plea in a sedition case. During the clashes, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death. HC orders Harris Chowdhury’s burial with state honour So far, six cases including a murder case, police assault, vandalism, and obstruction of government duties, have been filed in connection with the incident. Three of these cases were filed by police.

The Appellate Division has stayed the High Court order declaring “Joy Bangla” as the national slogan of Bangladesh. A four-bench bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order on Tuesday following a petition in this regrd. Besides, the Appellate Division granted permission for the state to appeal against the High Court order, said Additional Attorney General Anik R Hossain, who represented the petitioners. Writ seeks investigations into graft allegations against 51 judicial staff, inc judges ON March 2, 2022, the then government issued a notification declaring 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan of Bangladesh. The decision came after the High Court on March 10, 2020, declared ‘Joy Bangla’ to be the national slogan of the country. The High Court bench, led by Justices FRM Nazmul Ahasan and KM Kamrul Kader, passed the order after disposing of a rule issued on the matter. HC verdict on 15th Amendment set for Dec 17 On December 4, 2017, the High Court had issued a rule after hearing a petition. The rule questioned why ‘Joy Bangla’ should not be declared the national slogan.

As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal polyethylene, or polythene, production and sale, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has reported that 185 mobile court operations have been carried out since November 3. A total of just over Tk 23.7 lakh has been collected in fines from 377 companies involved in the illegal trade. In addition, around 46,262 kilograms of banned polyethylene have been seized during the operations. Four production factories meanwhile, have had their service connections cut and sealed. Bangladesh’s polythene ban falters as affordable alternatives remain out of reach Another mobile court operation was conducted today, December 9, 2024, resulting in fines of Tk 11,000 from three companies. Approximately 11 kilograms of banned polythene were seized in this operation as well. The Department of Environment has assured that such operations will continue in the future to curb the use and production of illegal polythene, that the interim government banned due to its disproportionately harmful environmental impact. Drives against Polythene: Tk19 lakh fined, 38,178 kg polythene seized

A writ petition has been filed seeking investigation into allegations of graft against some 51 individuals, including judges and staff of lower courts across the country. Advocate Md Amimul Ehsan Zobair, a Supreme Court lawyer filed the petition on Monday. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury is likely to hear the petition on Tuesday. The Secretary of the Law Ministry, Registrar General of the Supreme Court, and the Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have been made respondents. According to a report published in a daily newspaper, under the title 'Unbelievable wealth of 51 judges and staff’, it is said that the ACC found evidence against some judges and staff of the subordinate courts of amassing illegal wealth. Many of them became worth several crores in taka, and owned a number of flats in the country and abroad, said the report. The ACC during its investigation found primary evidence of graft against 51 people under the judicial department, with many of them also found accumulating wealth beyond known sources. Joint secretary of the Law Ministry Bikash Kumar Saha, Kushita Woman and Child Repression Prevention tribunal Judge Sheikh Holam Mahbub, Kishoreganj Woman and Child Repression Prevention tribunal Judge Mahbubur Rahman Sarkar, Sylhet district Judge Manir Kamal, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Metropolitan Court Tofazzal hossain, Magura Additional District Judge Mushfiqur Islam, Gazipur Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaisarul Islam, Narsingdi Chief Judicial Magistrate Molla Saiful Alam, Mymensingh Special Judge Farhana Ferdous, Sherpur Woman and Child Repression Prevention tribunal Judge Kamrunnahar Rumi, Dhaka Additional District Judge Shawkat hossain, Sirajganj Additional District and Session Judge Mohammad Erfan Ullah, Habiganj District Magistrate Saiful Alam Chowdhury, Dhaka Joint Metropolitan Session Judge Tasruzzaman, Tangail Chief Judicial Magistrate Mostafa Shahrier Khan were among those. Besides, allegations of illegal wealth were found against Barguna Woman and Child Repression Prevention tribunal Judge Mashiur Rahman Khan, Cumilla Woman and Child Repression Prevention tribunal Judge Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Rangpur District Judge Fazle Khoda Mohammad Najir, Rangamati District Judge Shahidul Islam, Jamalpur District Judge Ahsanul Haque, Dhaka Special Judge Masud Parvez, Sylhet Joint District and Session Judge Shahinur Rahman, Feni Additional District Judge Keshab Roy Chowdhury, officer of the judicial department Khurshid Alam, Atiqul Islam, Suruj Sarkar, Ali Mansur, Noman Moin Uddin, Subrat Mallik, Rakibul Islam, Harunur Rashid, Tehsin Iftekhar, Dhaka Joint Judge Nazmun Shahadat, Rangpur Senior Assistant Judge Krishna Kamal Roy, Dr. ABM Mahmudul Haque, Rustam Ali, Mamunur Rashid, Jewel Rana, Saifur Rahman Siddique, Abbas Uddin, Zinnat Zahan Jhunu, Enamul Haque Basunia, ANM Ilias, Moktadir Alam, Miltan and others.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued an order to remove alleged hate speech by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from social media and other websites. The order has been sent to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the information on Monday and said that the directive to investigate Sheikh Hasina’s recent virtual speech from London, delivered on Sunday, has also been communicated to the government. ICT bans dissemination of Hasina’s inflammatory remarks in media A three-member ICT bench led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza issued the order after hearing a prosecution team’s petition on December 5. The tribunal barred the media and social platforms from disseminating the deposed former prime minister’s allegedly inflammatory remarks, and instructed the BTRC to remove any such content that was previously produced and circulated. Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 amid student-led protests, has been delivering virtual speeches from her place of refuge. The prosecution claimed in its petition that her remarks spread hatred and divisiveness, harming the nation’s interests.

A Dhaka court on Monday placed former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on a three-day remand again in a case over a murder in the capital’s Chankharpul area during July-August uprising.  Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah passed the order after rejecting the bail plea. Palak was brought to court by police from jail.  Chief Justice pledges pro-people judiciary amid Institutional reforms Investigating officer and Sub-Inspector Sheikh Hadiuzzaman of Shahbagh police station sought a seven-day remand.  On August 14, Zunaid Ahmed Palak was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police while in hiding in Nikunja residential area.  Later, he was shown arrested in 46 cases and the court granted him a 31-day remand in various cases. He was last remanded in a case filed by Jatrabari Police Station on November 9.  ICT bans dissemination of Hasina’s inflammatory remarks in media While in custody, he fell ill and was urgently admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. According to the case statement, Chhatra Dal leader Manik  Mia joined the protesters in the Chankharpul area during the movement on August 5. Later, he was shot by the accused. After being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital the doctors declared him dead. Subsequently, a case was filed in the CMM Court where Palak  was named as the second accused in the First Information Report (FIR).

Police have seized a truck carrying 431 sacks of Indian sugar worth Tk 25.34 lakh from  Surma Gate Bypass Point area in Sylhet city and arrested two people. Police set up a checkpoint in front of the Bonoful shop at Surma Gate Bypass Point around 5 pm on Sunday and seized 431 sacks containing around 21,119 kg of Indian sugar,  said Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Media Officer and Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam. The arrestees are Md Shahid Ahmed, 26, son of late Sirajul Islam of Fatehpur village, and Imon Ahmed, 18, son of Sadh Ullah of Bagherkhal village, both from Jaintiapur upazila.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed assured on Sunday that the judiciary will stand beside people, stressing that strong steps have already been taken for institutional reforms at this crucial juncture. “Everyone will find a people-oriented and people-centric judiciary by your side in welfare and work,” he said while inaugurating the Citizen's Conference 2024 titled ‘People-centric Reform for Good Governance: Aspirations of Disadvantaged Communities’ in the capital. In recent years, the Chief Justice said that a sense of justice and the values associated with it have been eroded. “Dishonesty instead of honesty, deprivation instead of rights, oppression instead of justice, torture instead of shelter have been made normal matters (in the past years). But we did not want such a society and state,” he said. Read: Chief Justice calls for justice as a universal right at RULAA Council The Chief Justice stressed the need for starting a new journey of the judiciary and reestablishing the destroyed values standing on this pile of rubbles of this destruction. “At this critical juncture of the country, the judiciary is also not free from its broken state. However, at this stage, I want to assure you in a strong voice without any hesitation that a new journey has already started with some strong steps for institutional reforms to overcome this situation,” he added. The Chief Justice went on to say, “This historic moment of victory for the student-people movement has presented us with a golden opportunity to stand by the oppressed and oppressed. We must always be careful to make full use of this opportunity.” The two-day conference has been organised by Citizen's Platform for SDGs Bangladesh, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation at BICC in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area. Read more:Chief Justice concerned over incidents on SC premises, reaffirms smooth justice delivery The opening session was chaired by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Convenor of the Citizen’s Platform and distinguished fellow at CPD, with speakers including Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the Chief Adviser’s Office, Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, and Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Friday urged legal professionals to stay committed to ensuring justice as a universal right in society. “Whether in the courtroom, the classroom, or the community, let us remain committed to building a society where justice is not a privilege but a universal right,” he said. The Chief Justice made this call while addressing the Rajshahi University Law Alumni Association (RULAA) Council held at the Shaheed Shafiur Rahman Auditorium of the Supreme Court Bar Association. “Together, we have the power to transform challenges into opportunities and to pave the way for a future defined by equity and integrity,” he said. Pointing at the alumni, he said they carry the responsibility of upholding the ideals of justice, equality, and human rights. He said that their work as legal professionals, educators, and advocates plays a pivotal role in shaping a society rooted in fairness and the rule of law. “It is imperative that we continue to use our knowledge, influence, and resources to champion the causes of the marginalized, strengthen the legal framework, and promote access to justice for all,” he said. Pointing at the Supreme Court lawyers, the Chief Justice said they also act as bridges between the judiciary and the people as their role extends beyond the courtroom. “You educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities, empowering them to engage with the legal system. Your work ensures that the law is not an abstract concept but a living promise of fairness and equality for all,” said the Chief Justice. IGP calls for integrity and unity among police officers Refaat Ahmed said when he took the oath as the 25th Chief Justice of Bangladesh, he was acutely aware of the immense responsibility placed upon his shoulders. “This role is not merely a position of leadership, but a solemn trust bestowed by the people of this nation to uphold fairness, equity, and ensure access to justice for all, irrespective of their status or circumstances,” he said. From the very moment of his appointment, he recognized the urgency of addressing the challenges that have long impeded the full realization of our judiciary’s potential, he added. “To this end, on September 21, I unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for judicial reform. This initiative is a cornerstone of my vision to strengthen our judiciary and its capacity to serve the people with integrity and efficiency,” said the Chief Justice. As part of his steadfast commitment to institutional reform and strengthening the independence of the judiciary, he has taken decisive steps to establish the foundations for true separation of powers, said Refaat Ahmed. “I have declared and initiated the process of creating a separate Secretariat for the Judiciary, a pivotal measure to ensure the judiciary's administrative autonomy,” he said. Alongside this, he has proposed the formation of a Judicial Appointment Council to institutionalize transparency and meritocracy in the appointment process of apex court judges, as well as Posting and Transfer Guidelines for District Judiciaries, aimed at fostering consistency and fairness in judicial postings. “These proposals have been formally submitted to the government for necessary action, marking a significant step toward the complete institutional separation of the judiciary from the executive branch,” he said. Moreover, in reinforcing the judiciary's independence from the legislative branch, they have restored and strengthened the Supreme Judicial Council following the disposal of the 16th Amendment review case, he went on. Recognizing the critical importance of access to justice, he introduced a Capacity Test alongside the existing Means Test for invoking legal aid services, said the Chief Justice. RULAA convenor Barrister Bodruddoza Badal presided over the function moderated by its member secretary Kamal Ziaul Islam Babu.