United News of Bangladesh

The ongoing anti-polythene drives by the Department of Environment (DoE) have made significant progress, with notable actions taken between November 3 and 26, 2024. During this period, 162 mobile court drives were conducted across the country, resulting in fines totaling Taka 19,16,300 for 336 business entities involved in the illegal production and distribution of polythene. The authorities also seized 38,178 kilograms of polythene during these drives. In Dhaka, 13 mobile courts, led by Department of Environment (DoE) Executive Magistrates—Kazi Tamjid Ahmed, Sultana Saleha Sumi, and Fayzunnesa Akter—fined Taka 86,500 on 27 establishments and seized approximately 3,980 kilograms of polythene. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has reaffirmed its commitment to continue these crackdown operations regularly as part of its ongoing efforts to combat pollution caused by banned polythene products.  

Lawyers allegedly threw an egg at Justice Md Ashraful Kamal at the High Court on Wednesday. The incident occurred during a session at the bench led by Justice Ashraful Kamal and Justice Kazi Waliul Islam. Eggs to be supplied to dealers in 11 more markets in capital Eyewitnesses reported that a group of lawyers entered the courtroom during ongoing proceedings and confronted Justice Kamal. They accused him of making derogatory remarks about former President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in his observations related to the 16th Amendment case verdict in 2016. The lawyers said, “As a judge, you have no right to conduct proceedings if you still hold such biased views.” During the confrontation, one of the lawyers threw an egg at Justice Kamal. However, the egg hit the desk in front of the judge’s seat. Following the incident, Justice Kamal and Justice Kazi Waliul Islam left the courtroom and went to their chambers.

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 2,065 cases during operations against traffic rule violators on Tuesday. Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, shared this information in a media release on Wednesday afternoon. Hindus in Faridpur thwarted from protesting Chinmoy's arrest In addition, 26 vehicles were impounded, and 64 others were towed. The DMP's drives will continue to enforce traffic regulations in the Dhaka metropolitan area, he added.

The High Court on Wednesday acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two others in the Barapukuria coal mine graft case. Judge Md Abu Taher of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 passed the order. Tarique, Giasuddin Al Mamun, 6 others acquitted in Tk 10cr extortion case Two others who got acquittal are former ministers Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. The court, however, framed charges against Moazzem Hossain, Nazrul Islam, Moinul Ahsan and Md Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, officially initiating the trial.

The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has challenged the accuracy of a Reuters report titled “One killed in Bangladesh as Hindu protesters clash with police” published on November 27, 2024. The report highlighted the tense situation surrounding the arrest and bail hearing of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), The Reuters article quoted Deputy Police Commissioner (South Division) Liaquat Ali Khan as saying, “A Muslim lawyer defending Das was killed amid protests outside the court [in Chattogram].” Ctg lawyers go on strike protesting lawyer’s murder; thousands join janaza However, CMP has strongly denied this claim, asserting that neither Reuters nor its journalists contacted Liaquat Ali Khan for a statement. In a statement released by CMP, the police clarified that Liaquat Ali Khan was actively deployed at the court premises to maintain law and order during the protests. At no point did he issue any statements to the media regarding the incident. The CMP further pointed out that four constables named Liaquat are employed within Chattogram, and none of them provided any remarks to Reuters. The publication of unverified or fabricated statements attributed to an on-duty officer is a direct violation of journalistic ethics, the CMP said. They emphasized the need for media outlets to ensure accuracy and credibility before publishing sensitive reports, particularly when attributing quotes to law enforcement personnel. Ctg court area turns violent over denial of ex-ISKCON leader’s bail; lawyer killed The Chattogram Metropolitan Police expressed hope that Reuters and other media organizations would adhere to ethical standards and verify information thoroughly in the future.

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.