United News of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division has scheduled a hearing for November 17 on three separate review petitions over the cancellation of the caretaker government system, which was abolished through the 16th amendment to the constitution. The hearing was initially scheduled for today (Thursday), but Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman sought a four-week deferral, prompting the court to reschedule it. The upcoming hearing will take place before a six-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. Earlier, on October 20, the Appellate Division’s chamber judge had set October 24 as the date for hearing two of the petitions challenging the ruling on the abolition of the caretaker government system. The review petitions address the cancellation of the system, which was previously enshrined in the 13th amendment to the constitution in 1996. One of the petitions was filed by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN), in August this year. On October 16, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also submitted a separate review petition, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami on October 23. The caretaker government system was introduced through the 13th amendment in 1996 to ensure neutral oversight of national elections. But in 2011, the Appellate Division, led by then Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, declared the system unconstitutional and abolished it. The court did, however, allow for the 10th and 11th general elections to be held under a caretaker government, contingent on parliamentary consensus over the appointment of the chief adviser. Since the abolition of the system, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have persistently demanded its reinstatement. The then ruling Awami League, on the other hand, firmly rejected these calls.

Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Mamunul Haque has been acquitted in the rape case related to an incident at Royal Resort in Sonargaon of Narayanganj district. Judge Jasmine Ara Begum of the Narayanganj District Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict on Thursday in Mamunul Haque’s presence in the courtroom. Defence lawyer Advocate AKM Omar Faruq Nayan said that Maulana Haque was found not guilty of the charges brought against him in connection with the case. This case stems from an incident that took place at the Royal Resort in April 2021. After the trial, the court ruled in favour of the accused. On April 3 in 2021, local Jubo and Chhatra league activists confined the Hefazat leader along with a woman to Royal Resort. Mamunul then claimed the woman to be his second wife. On information, Hefazat fellows and madrasah students rushed to the spot and snatched him from the resort after carrying out an attack. On April 18, a team of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested him from a madrasah in Mohammadpur area.   On April 30, the woman, who was said to be Mamunul’s wife, filed a case under Women and Children Repression and Prevention Act with Sonargaon police station in Narayanganj. On September 10, the investigation officer of the case submitted a chargesheet to the court against Mamunul. On November 3, the court framed charges against him. Twenty-six, out of 40 witnesses, including the woman, gave testimonies against the Khelafat Majlish leader.

Amid ongoing protests demanding the resignation of President Shahabuddin, security has been beefed up around the presidential palace, Bangabhaban, with newly installed barbed-wire fences. Protesters continued to gather sporadically near Bangabhaban for the third consecutive day on Thursday, calling for the President's immediate resignation. Along with the Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) are also on high alert. Read: Tense situation prevailing around Bangabhaban following explosion of sound grenade To fend off any unwarranted situation, stringent security cordons have been ensured on the road in front of Bangabhaban. In addition to a four-layered barricade, a three-layered barbed-wire fence has been erected as the President's residence remains tense flowing two days of protests.

Detectives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested Iyaz Al Riad, vice-president of the central committee of banned Bangladesh Chhatra League. Iyaz was picked up on Wednesday night hours after the interim government outlawed the BCL on terrorism and other charges. Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (DC-media) of the DMP confirmed the arrest on Thursday. He didn’t provide details. Iyaz was also former general secretary of Dhaka University’s Bangabandhu Hall unit of the BCL. On August 6, the authorities arrested general secretary of the DU unit of BCL Tanvir Hasan Saikat from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 no visible activities of the Awami League’s student wing BCL have been seen.

Former chairman of Padma Bank Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat has been summoned to the head office of Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) for questioning over allegations of embezzling Tk 800 crore from banks and share market scam. Team leader ACC deputy director Masudur Rahman sent a letter to Nafeez Sarafat asking him to appear at the commission in the capital at 10:00am on Thursday. A three-member investigation committee headed by Deputy Director Masudur Rahman has been formed. Two other members are Deputy Firector Mostafizur Rahman and Deputy Assistant Director Muhammad Rakiz Minhaj The letter was sent to three addresses of Nafeez Sarafat in the capital’s Gulshan and Khilkhet areas on October 16, asking him to appear at the ACC. On Octobe 7the Dhaka Senior Special Judge Court imposed an international travel ban on Nafeez following an ACC petition while the ACC initiated an inquiry against him on August 15. Nafeez served as the chairman of Padma Bank for more than six years and resigned in January this year. He joined the Padma Bank, formerly known as Farmers Bank Limited, in January 2018 replacing its former chairman Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir.

Police have arrested two members of the Jatiya Sramik League in connection with the murder of Syed Nazmul Hasan, a 23-year-old physiotherapy technician, who was killed during an anti-discrimination student protest in Dhaka’s Banasree area. The arrested individuals, Md Farid (38), vice-president of the Sramik League for Khilgaon Ward 74, and Md Taman Mia (44), a member of the same organization, were arrested on Wednesday, according to Talebur Rahman, media officer for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). On July 19, thousands of students gathered for a protest march in Banasree’s G Block. Around 3:30 pm that day, Nazmul Hasan, who was on his way to Al-Razi Islamia Hospital from his home in Aftabnagar, was caught in the crossfire as violence erupted. Armed leaders and activists from various Awami League-affiliated organizations reportedly opened fire and hurled crude bombs at the protesters. Nazmul, who had no involvement in the protest, was struck by bullets in the chest and back, leading to his immediate death. On October 13, Abdul Malek, 70, a relative of the victim, filed a murder case at the Khilgaon police station, leading to the investigation and subsequent arrests. The arrestees have been presented before the court.

Former Election Commission Secretary and PSC member Helal Uddin has been arrested by Chattogram police.  He was taken into custody on Wednesday evening from the Bayezid area of Chattogram city and later transferred to Kotwali Police Station.  Rizvi accuses govt of 'hide and seek' over arrest of Hasina's ministers Fazlul Kader, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, confirmed the information. Sources indicate that Helal Uddin was a key figure behind the controversial overnight voting in 2018 and a facilitator of vote manipulation in 2024. 

The High Court on Wednesday acquitted former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in a corruption case related to acquiring wealth beyond his known sources of income. The ruling came after Babar filed an appeal challenging the lower court’s conviction. The bench of Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah delivered the acquittal. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir represented Babar during the hearing, while Advocate AKM Fazlul Haque argued on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Despite this acquittal, Babar will remain behind bars as he faces 13 other cases. Court imposes travel ban on ex-DG of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy The ACC initially filed the corruption case against Babar on January 13, 2008, at the Ramna Model Police Station. A charge sheet was submitted by ACC deputy assistant secretary Rupok Kumar Saha on July 16, 2008. Babar was first arrested from his Gulshan residence on May 28, 2007. Later that year, on October 30, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison in an arms case. Babar also received the death penalty in two high-profile cases: the 10-truck arms haul case and the August 21 grenade attack case. In 2018, a fast-track tribunal sentenced Babar, along with 18 others, to death for his role in the grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004, which killed and injured numerous people.

A court in Sirajganj on Wednesday placed ex-MP of Sirajganj-2 Jannat Ara Henry and her husband Md Labu Talukdar, former chairman of Sirajganj Zila Parishad, on a four-day fresh remand in a Jubo Dal leader murder case. Sirajganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-2 judge Md Russel Mahmud passed the order after police produced them before the court with a remand prayer, said the plaintiff’s lawyer Nazmul Islam. On October 2 and 16, the same court placed the couple on 7 and 5-day remand respectively in connection with the killing of local Jubo Dal leader Sohannur Rahman Ranju during the recent movement. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members arrested them from Sonapur area of Moulvibazar town on September 30.

The High Court has scrapped four extortion cases filed against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in 2007. The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain passed the order after hearing a rule. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Barrister Sanjid Siddique stood for Tarique. Barrister Mahbub Uddin said two businesspersons filed the cases with Kafrul Police Station on charge of extortion against Tarique in 2007. A writ petition was filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the cases. In 2008, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to stop the trail proceeding and why the proceedings of the cases should not be declared illegal. On March 7, 2007, the law enforcement agencies arrested Tarique Rahman during the tenure of  the caretaker government. Later, 15 more cases were filed against him on charges of extortion, tax evasion, accumulation of illegal wealth and corruption. On September 3, 2008, Tarique went to the UK for better treatment after securing bail from court.