United News of Bangladesh

Police and members of Rab have arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of Shahadat Islam Rocky, 25, a grocery shop employee who was stabbed to death in the capital’s Kamrangirchar area early Tuesday. According to police, the planned armed attack took place around 3:45am on early Tuesday in East Islamnagar. Unidentified assailants stabbed Rocky multiple times on both thighs with a sharp weapon and fled the scene. Locals rescued him after hearing his screams and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Family members said Rocky left home around 4pm on the previous Monday to join his work at a grocery shop. The next day (Tuesday) morning, relatives were informed that he had been found critically injured. Initial findings from the investigation suggest that Rocky, reportedly involved in local grouping and known for drug addiction, may have been targeted due to disputes arising from his identifying himself as a police source to intimidate rivals. Following a complaint filed by the victim’s father, Kamrangirchar Police Station registered a case. The investigating officer then sought assistance from RAB-10 to arrest the fugitives. Acting on intelligence and with police support, a RAB-10 team from CPSCS Lalbagh Camp conducted a raid in Chamta area under Naria Police Station in Shariatpur around 12:30am on early Wednesday and arrested Md Arman, 22, identified during the investigation as a suspect in the murder. RAB said Arman has four previous cases related to robbery and dacoity. He has since been handed over to the concerned police station.

BNP leader Advocate Fazlur Rahman has tendered an unconditional apology after being accused of contempt of court for making disparaging remarks about the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam confirmed the development on Wednesday during a press briefing at the tribunal premises. He said that Fazlur Rahman has already submitted his apology to the tribunal, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter on December 8. Fazlur Rahman acknowledged that his earlier remarks were made in error and expressed hope that the court would show mercy. The prosecution had earlier filed a contempt petition against him for making derogatory comments about the tribunal and its proceedings related to crimes against humanity committed during July–August. On November 30, the ICT summoned Fazlur Rahman to appear on December 8 with his professional and academic certificates, following allegations of making controversial statements regarding the tribunal and its trials. The order was issued by International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder.

The government has extended the tenure of the National Independent Investigation Commission formed to reinvestigate the BDR carnage till December 7. Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday. The interim government formed the independent commission on December 24 last year with retired Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman as its chairman. Initially, the commission was given three months to submit its report. The tenure was later extended twice, each time by three months, followed by an additional two-month extension. The latest extension expired on November 30. According to the new notification, the seven-day extension will take effect from December 1. Recommendations of BDR massacre investigation committee to be implemented: Home Adviser The commission has been tasked with unearth the nature and full extent of the events that took place on February 25–26, 2009 at the then BDR headquarters in Pilkhana. The commission has been asked to identify those involved including perpetrators, accomplices, conspirators, evidence destroyers, instigators and any domestic or foreign individuals, groups, organisations, agencies, or institutions linked to the killings. The commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on November 30.  

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two suspects on Tuesday in connection with the killing of CNG auto-rickshaw driver Pappu Sheikh, who was shot dead in a reported planned attack in the capital’s Jurain area on Monday evening. The arrestees were identified as Md Yusuf Sardar, 45, and Md Uzzal alias Kanchi, 30. Yusuf was arrested from the Alambagh area of Jurain under Kadamtali Police Station and Kanchi was arrested from the Jurain Railway Gate area under Shyampur Police Station. Police quoting witnesses said the incident took place around 6:30pm on Monday at Kana Jobbar’s Goli on Kabi Nazrul Lane under Kadamtali Police Station. Pappu Sheikh, 26, was allegedly targeted by members of a local criminal group known as the Bapparaj alias Bappa group, reportedly following a dispute over drug-related activities. Police said Pappu had left his rented home in East Jurain to visit his in-laws when the attackers intercepted him. The group allegedly held him by force before Bapparaj alias Bappa fired three shots at him with a firearm. One bullet struck Pappu in the left side of his groin, causing him to collapse at the scene. Local residents rushed the critically injured victim to local Ad-Din Hospital, from where he was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Doctors at DMCH declared him dead upon arrival. Following a complaint filed by the victim’s father, police registered a case with Kadamtali Police Station. The investigation officer subsequently sought cooperation from RAB-10 to track down the suspects. Acting on intelligence, a team from CPC-1, Jatrabari Camp of RAB-10, conducted operations in different parts of Jurain. The elite force arrested one of the named suspects, Md Yusuf Sardar, 45, from the Alambagh area of Jurain under Kadamtali Police Station around 11:15am on Tuesday. About an hour later, around12:15pm, RAB members detained the second suspect, Md Uzzal alias Kanchi, 30, from the Jurain Railway Gate area under Shyampur Police Station, said Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Media) of RAB-10, Taposh Karmakar. He also said that Yusuf Sardar has three previous cases, including under the Narcotics Control Act, while Uzzal alias Kanchi faces two narcotics-related cases. Legal procedures against the arrested individuals are underway, the RAB media officer said.

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued a rule asking as to why law should not be enacted to ensure ‘rational punishment’ for hurting religious sentiments. An HC bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Asif Hasan issued the rule after a preliminary hearing of a writ petition. The Law Ministry Secretary and other officials concerned were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks. Lawyer Md. Golam Kibria represented the petitioner. The petition, filed on November 30, seeks directives to introduce death penalty as the maximum punishment in cases over hurting religious sentiments. Case filed against BNP candidate Tulee for hurting religious sentiment; PBI to investigate Currently, under the Bangladesh Penal Code and the Cybersecurity Act, the punishment for such offenses is limited to two years of imprisonment, said lawyer Kibria During the hearing, Kibria emphasized that introducing stricter penalties would prevent individuals from committing these crimes in the future.

Police have so far submitted charge sheets in 106 cases filed over incidents during the July 2024 anti-discrimination student–public uprising, also known as the July Uprising, across the country. According to police headquarters, the chargesheets include 31 murder cases  and  75 cases under other criminal charges. The 31 murder cases were filed with respective police stations in connection with the incidents that occurred in Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, Dhaka, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Chandpur, Feni, Kurigram and Sherpur districts. Investigation of those cases have been carried out by the Police Bureau of Investigation (P BI), Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP),  and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). The remaining 75 cases were filed under various sections of CrPc with local police station in connection with the incidents of Pabna, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Bogura, Dhaka, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Tangail, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, and Barguna districts. The investigation of those cases were conducted by PBI, Criminal Investigation Department ( CID), Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Barishal Metropolitan Police (BMP), Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, Chattogram Metropolitan Police,  and Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP). Police said senior officials have been supervising the investigations to ensure proper and thorough handling of all cases linked to the uprising. Relatives of July uprising martyrs gather at tribunal ahead of Hasina verdict Police headquarters said that efforts are underway to complete investigations into the remaining cases and bring the perpetrators to justice. Besides, investigators have submitted interim reports to the court recommending discharge of 2,830 persons under Section 173A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc), in 437 anti-discrimination-related cases.    

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking why the provision in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) that requires candidates in an electoral alliance to use their respective party symbols while contesting elections should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the rule after hearing a writ petition. The Law Secretary, Election Commission (EC), and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) have been asked to respond within 10 days. Senior lawyer Ahsanul Karim, along with Reshad Imam and Shahedul Azam, appeared for the petitioner. Lawyer Kamal Hossain Miyaji represented the Election Commission, while Deputy Attorney General Akhtar Hossain Md. Abdul Wahab appeared for the state. The writ, filed on November 27 by Mominul Amin, secretary general of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Bobby Hajjaj, challenges the amended RPO provision that mandates each registered party in an alliance to run under its own symbol. Previously, parties in an alliance could field candidates under the symbol of any partner party. The government issued the amendment through an ordinance on November 3. The advisory council had granted in-principle approval to the draft ordinance on October 23. The BNP and several smaller parties have raised objections to the provision, arguing that it complicates alliance arrangements. The party submitted formal objections to the Election Commission and the law ministry.

There is no known legal bar preventing BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman from returning to Bangladesh, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said on Monday (December 01). “If any obstacles exist, we will certainly cooperate (with him). We will make the best possible arrangements for his security,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The adviser said the decision to return rests entirely with Tarique Rahman. “He has the authority to choose the appropriate time. I believe he will return when he considers it right,” he added. Read more: 'Political realities prevent my return', says Tarique as he seeks prayers for Khaleda Responding to questions about why Tarique has not yet returned, the adviser said such speculation is unnecessary. “Many people raise questions about his return, but I find those comments uninteresting. This is a matter between a mother and her son. Is there any directive from Begum Khaleda Zia, or does Tarique Rahman have personal considerations? I don’t think it is appropriate to comment on that,” he said. “We must understand that this is a mother-son relationship. He knows best when to come and when to take any action,” Nazrul added. Read more: No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt

A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced ex-PM  Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s daughter and British MP Tulip Siddiq to different jail terms in a case filed over the misuse of power in securing a 10-katha government plot in Purbachal area of the capital. Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 pronounced the verdict. Sheikh Hasina, earlier sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, was handed five years’ imprisonment, while Rehana seven years and Tulip Siddiq two years of jail. The court also fined each of them Tk 1 lakh with six months’ imprisonment in default of payment. Besides, 14 other accused were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each along with fine. Read more: RAJUK plot scam: Verdict in case against Hasina, Rehana, 15 others on December 1 According to the case statement, ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin filed the case on January 13 accusing Sheikh Rehana of unlawfully obtaining a 10-katha plot at Purbachal New Town through abuse of power and procedural irregularities. Seventeen people, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Tulip Siddiq, were named as accused in the case. On November 18, the court completed the witness examination and recording statements of 32 people. On July 31, the court framed charges against the accused. This case is part of six related cases with three others scheduled for verdict on November 27. Read more: Hasina gets 21 years in jail over Rajuk plot allocation irregularities

The Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order granting bail to Dhaka University professor Hafizur Rahman Karzon in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009. Justice Md Rezaul Haque, chamber judge of the Appellate Division, passed “no order” on a petition filed by the state challenging the High Court decision. As a result, there is no barrier to Prof. Karzon’s release from prison. Advocate Sheikh Ali Ahmed Khokon represented him. On November 24, the High Court had granted Prof. Karzon ad-interim bail for six months and issued a rule asking the state to explain why he should not be granted permanent bail. He was released from Dhaka Central Jail on November 28 following the order. Earlier on August 29, a Dhaka court ordered the police to send former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Prof. Karzon, journalist Monjurul Alam, and 15 others to jail. It was filed by Sub-Inspector Md Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station. Latif Siddique and Monjurul Alam were later released after securing High Court bail in the same case.