United News of Bangladesh

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.

Members of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari from near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Two ISKCON youths detained over alleged disrespect of national flag Based on information, a team of DB arrested him from near the Dhaka airport on Monday afternoon, said Joint commissioner (DB- North) of DMP Rabiul Bhuiyan. Chinmoy was arrested in a case filed with Chattrogram Kotwali Police Station. He has been sent to Chattogram, added the DB official. The ISKCON leader was reportedly preparing to travel to Chattogram at the time of his arrest.

The High Court on Monday rejected a writ petition by Matiur Rahman, former president of the National Board of Revenue's (NBR) Customs, Excise, and VAT Appellate Tribunal, seeking permission to leave the country. The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf issued the ruling, confirmed by Matiur's lawyer, Advocate SM Shamim Hossain. The petition had been filed on Sunday. No bar on battery-run rickshaws on Dhaka roads; SC issues status quo On June 24, the court barred Matiur Rahman, his first wife, Laila Kaniz Lucky, and their son, Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman Arnab, from traveling abroad. The order was passed by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Senior Special Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain following an appeal by Anwar Hossain, Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court's injunction stems from allegations that Matiur Rahman and his family accumulated massive wealth through corrupt practices. Investigations revealed extensive holdings under their names, including 15 flats and four houses in Dhaka, alongside claims of undisclosed wealth overseas.

The Appellate Division on Monday issued a one- month status quo on the High court order banning the movement of battery-run rickshaws on roads in Dhaka. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Md Rezaul Haq passed the order following a petition filed by the state. The court also ordered disposing of the rule issued by the HC in this regard. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, who stood for the petition, said following the order now there is no bar on plying of battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka. Govt files petition seeking stay on HC order banning battery-run rickshaws On November 20, the High Court ordered the relevant government authorities to take necessary steps within three days to halt the operation of battery-powered rickshaws in Dhaka, citing safety concerns and the need to reduce road accidents. The court also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why their failure to stop these vehicles should not be deemed illegal. The directive came in response to a writ petition filed by the Dhaka City Corporation Rickshaw Owners' Unity Alliance.

Eleven people have been detained in Kamalnagar upazila of Lakhimpur for their alleged bid to take some impoverished people to Dhaka with promises of interest-free loans ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 1 crore for attending a rally. Police and army personnel detained them from Koraitola Bazar of Kamalnagar upazila after locals intercepted three buses and four microbuses carrying over 300 people including women and teenagers when they were going to join the rally organised by a group named Ahingsha Andolon Bangladesh. Upon receiving information  from locals, the army and police detained them and seized the vehicles on Sunday night, said Kamalnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tahidul Islam said on Monday morning. The passengers of the buses and microbuses said the organisers had collected Tk 1,000 from each person promising interest-free loans if they attended the rally reportedly scheduled for Shahbagh or Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Morshed Alam, a resident of Koralitola bazar area, said the group had been mobilising locals under the guise of providing loans since early August. Farhana Akter and Jesmin Begum, two women from Uttar Char Lawrence village, said they had been assured Tk 1 lakh loans in exchange for attending the rally and paying a nominal fee of Tk 10. They were supposed to get the loan the day after the rally. Nasima and Rowshan Begum, residents of Torabganj village, said they paid Tk 1,000 each as transport fees. They added that many others had similarly contributed money. OC Tahidul Islam said  they detained 11 people and seized the vehicles but the main perpetrators could not be traced yet. “The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) did not approve any such rally. The so-called rally has been canceled," the OC added.

The government has filed a petition seeking stay on the High Court order banning the movement of battery-powered rickshaws in Dhaka. The petition was submitted to the Appellate Division's relevant section on Monday, according to sources from the Attorney General's Office. A hearing on the petition is likely to take place at the Chamber Judge's Court of the Appellate Division later in the day. On Sunday, Deputy Attorney General Nur Muhammad Azmi told the media that preparations were underway to file the petition against the High Court's directive. “We may submit the petition to the Chamber Judge’s Court today or tomorrow,” he said. DMP issues directive to curb loud horn use in Dhaka metropolis He said permitting battery-powered rickshaws is a policy decision of the government and the High Court should not intervene in such matters. On November 20, the High Court ordered the relevant government authorities to take necessary steps within three days to halt the operation of battery-powered rickshaws in Dhaka, citing safety concerns and the need to reduce road accidents. The court also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why their failure to stop these vehicles should not be deemed illegal. The directive came in response to a writ petition filed by the Dhaka City Corporation Rickshaw Owners' Unity Alliance.