United News of Bangladesh

A bicyclist was stabbed to death by muggers in Lal Dighi area of the port city of Chattogram early Friday, said police. The incident occurred near Chattogram Zilla Parisahd Market, just a hundred yards off Kotwali Police Station around 2:30am. The deceased was identified as Ismail Hossain, 33, a resident from Lakshmipur Sadar upazila and a tea stall worker by profession in the city.   Quoting witnesses, police said that the muggers interrupted him and attacked with a knife in chest, leaving him critically injured. Later, he was rushed him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared him dead. His body is now kept at the hospital morgue. Officer-in-charge Abdul Karim of Kotwali Police Station said efforts are underway to unveil the murder and arrest those involved. A case will be filed after the autopsy, he added.

The Coast Guard has detained twelve individuals along with a lighter vessel carrying smuggled coal worth over Tk 1 crore under Kotwali Police Station in Barishal. Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq shared the information on Friday morning but did not disclose the identities of the detainees. Acting on a tip-off, the Barishal station team conducted a raid at 5:00 am on Friday near Charmonai Anand Ghat under Kotwali Police Station. During the operation, a suspicious lighter vessel was searched, and 1,100 metric tons of smuggled coal, valued at around Tk 1.1 crore, were seized, Lt. Cmdr. Siam-ul-Haq said. Initial interrogation revealed that the coal had been illegally smuggled from a foreign ship stationed at Mongla Hiran Point under false pretenses.

Clashes broke out multiple times on Thursday between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists in Ishwardi, Pabna. Over fifty activists from across the two sides, including Jamaat’s MP candidate for Pabna-4 (Ishwardi-Atghoria) constituency, Abu Taleb Mondal, were injured in the violence - although police put the number much lower, suggesting both sides reported exaggerated figures. The incident occurred in Char Gorgori area of Sahapur Union in the afternoon. The names of the injured are yet to be confirmed, and they have been admitted to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex. Locals said that Abu Taleb Mondal was heading from Rahimpur Bottola to Char Gorgori Alhaj Mor with a convoy of over 150 motorcycles when his procession met a BNP rally at Jogir Mor, triggering clashes between the two groups.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed will deliver his farewell speech to the judges of Bangladesh on December 14, ahead of his retirement later the same month. He is set to retire on December 27 upon reaching the retirement age of 67, the maximum age for serving in the role of Chief Justice. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said in a media statement on Thursday that this will be his final address to judicial officers across the country before stepping down. A major session has been scheduled at 3:00 pm at the Supreme Court auditorium. Senior judicial officers from district courts nationwide are expected to attend, including all district judges, metropolitan sessions judges, chief judicial magistrates, and chief metropolitan magistrates. In his farewell address, the Chief Justice will highlight the roadmap for judicial reform and overall development, the initiatives undertaken over the past one and a half years, and the future prospects. He is expected to provide important guidelines for ongoing reform activities, including the expansion of technology-based services, professional skill development of judicial officers, ensuring transparency in court operations, enhancing the capacity of subordinate court judges, improving access to justice, and addressing the backlog of cases. Syed Refaat assumed office as Bangladesh’s 25th Chief Justice following the July Uprising of 2024.

A Dhaka court on Thursday (November 27) sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in jail in three cases over irregularities in plot allocation by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).  Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 delivered the judgment in the packed-jam court in her absence. Hasina, who took shelter in India amid the mass protest on August 5 last year, got seven years in jail in each case, totaling 21 years of jail. Read more: ICT releases full verdict on Hasina, Kamal’s death penalty Her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were also awarded five years in jail each, with Joy facing a fine of Tk 1 lakh. Former RAJUK official Khurshid Alam, who was present at the dock during the verdict delivery, was sentenced to one year of jail. Besides, Housing and Public Works official Saiful Islam Sarkar was acquitted from the charges in the cases. The court in its observation said Sheikh Hasina betrayed the country by grabbing public property under her name without following legal procedures. On November 23, the court set November 27 to deliver judgment in the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over graft. On July 31, the court framed charges against 47 people including Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul in the cases. Read more: ACC’s year of mixed outcomes: 249 cases closed, yet acquittals dominate The other accused in the cases are Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, her daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Additional Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin, Administrative Officer Saiful Islam Sarker, Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Goldar, former Rajuk Chairman Anisur Rahman Mia, former members Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmoy Das, Nurul Islam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Director Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Deputy Directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former State Minister Sharif Ahmed, and former Prime Minister’s Private Secretary Salauddin. Ninety-one witnesses testified in the cases. The ACC filed the six cases in January this year accusing them of illegally securing Rajuk plots misusing their positions. Chargesheets in all six cases were submitted to court. According to the case statement, Sheikh Hasina and her family members in collaboration with high-ranking officials of Rajuk allocated plots on political considerations through abuse of power and irregularities, On July 20, the six cases over Rajuk plot allocation were transferred to the two special courts—Dhaka Special Court-4 and Special Court-5. Read more: Recovered gold not only Hasina’s, includes family members too, says ACC

A 25-year-old man has been hacked to death allegedly by his rivals over previous enmity in Gajaria upazila of Munshiganj district. The incident occurred in Chauddakahunia village of Baushia union in the upazila on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Joy Sarkar, son of Jamal Sarkar of the same village. According to locals, there had long been a dispute between Jamal’s family and another group in the village led by Nannu and his associates over dominance. Around 7:30pm on Wednesday, Nannu, Beku Hasan and others allegedly attacked Joy with sharp weapons near the local government primary school, leaving him critically injured. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot while the attackers fled, they said. Though he was rushed to Gajaria Upazila Health Complex, physicians declared him dead upon arrival. Dr. Noore Alam Ziku, an emergency doctor at the health complex, said Joy suffered deep cuts across his body and died due to excessive bleeding. Officer-in-charge Md Anowar Alam Azad of Gajaria Police Station, said efforts are underway to detain those accused in the murder. He informed that nearly a year ago the same group had previously attacked Jamal Sarkar, injuring his hand.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Wednesday (November 26) released the full text of its 453-page judgment that convicted and sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July Mass Uprising. International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Mizanul Islam confirmed that the prosecution has received a full copy of the verdict. “The registrar will decide when the copy of the verdict will be sent to the concerned department,” he said. Meanwhile, Zayed Bin Amjad, lawyer for former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun—who was sentenced to five years in prison in the same case—said he has also received a copy of the full verdict. State-appointed defence lawyer Md Amir Hossain, who represented Sheikh Hasina and Kamal, said he has not received any copy due to the absence of legal provision allowing it. As the two accused remain absconding, they will not have the opportunity to appeal, he added. BNP hails Hasina’s death sentence verdict, says justice served On November 17, the tribunal delivered the judgment against the three, finding them guilty on the charges brought forward. The three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, began announcing the verdict at around 12:30pm, unveiling the 453-page document. Five charges had initially been brought against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly ordering crimes against humanity during the July–August mass student uprising. The tribunal evaluated these allegations and proceeded with the trial. The charges were later reorganized into two broad charges, under which the accused were found guilty of a total of six offences. Prosecutor Gazi M. H. Tamim said the tribunal’s verdict considered two consolidated charges, within which six distinct crimes were established. The court found the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal guilty of three counts under charge number one. Count-1: Inciting crimes through provocative speech at a press briefing on July 14, 2024, where she labelled protesters as children of Razakars. Count-2: On the night of July 14, 2024, she had a telephonic conversation with the then vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, where she again termed the protesters as Razakars and threatened to hang them. The tribunal found the accused had ordered and incited the violence that followed and did not obstruct their subordinates from committing the crimes. Count-3: Following that, police shot and killed Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) student Abu Sayeed. Read more: Dhaka writes to Delhi afresh seeking Hasina’s extradition The tribunal sentenced both Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to imprisonment unto death for three counts of charge number one. It also found them guilty of three counts of charge number two. Count-1: Ordering the deployment of helicopters, drones and lethal weapons against protesters, which was proved in the telephonic conversation of Sheikh Hasina with Hasanul Haque Inu. Count-2: Following the order, six unarmed students were gunned down in the capital's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024. Count-3: Six protesters were gunned down in Ashulia on August 5, 2024, and their bodies were burned to hide evidence. The tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina and Kamal to death for these offences. The tribunal also ordered the authorities concerned to confiscate the property of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan. The court also asked the authorities concerned to take steps to provide adequate compensation from this property to the martyrs and injured victims of July-August movement in proportion to the extent of their losses. Besides, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness in the case, was sentenced to five years in prison in both charges. Read more: Delhi examining request for Hasina’s extradition; Dhaka expects response

A Dhaka court on Wednesday fixed March 3 for submission of the investigation report in a case filed against 15 people including Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, over stock-market manipulation, illegal transactions and money laundering. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez fixed the date as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) failed to submit the investigation report, said assistant director of ACC Aminul Islam. The other accused are—Abul Khayer, deputy registrar of Cooperatives Department, his wife Kazi Sadia Hasan, Abul Kalam Madbor, Kanika Afroz, Mohammad Bashar, Sajed Madbor, Aleya Begum, Kazi Fuad Hasan, Kazi Farid Hasan, Shirin Akter, Zaved A Matin, Zahed Kamal, Humayun Kabir and Tanvir Nizam. According to the case statement, Wednesday had been set for submission of the investigation report in the case. As the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) did not submit the report on the scheduled date, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez fixed a new date for submission. ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam, from the prosecution division, confirmed the matter to the court. The other accused in the case are: Deputy Registrar of the Department of Cooperatives Abul Khair, his wife Kazi Sadia Hasan, Abul Kalam Madbor, Kanika Afroze, Mohammad Bashar, Sajed Madbor, Aleya Begum, Kazi Fuad Hasan, Kazi Farid Hasan, Shirin Akhter, Javed A. Matin, Zahed Kamal, Humayun Kabir and Tanvir Nizam. According to the case statement, an allegation has been brought against the accused of misappropriating Tk 256.97 crore. ACC summons cricket ace Shakib Al Hasan Abul Khair (Hiru), with the assistance of his wife Kazi Sadia Hasan, concealed the source of Tk 29.94 crore and transferred the money across various channels. Besides, 17 bank accounts operated in his name showed unusual and suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 542.31 crore. Later, ACC Assistant Director Sajjad Hossain filed the case on May 17 at the ACC headquarters.  

The 832 totals (9,707.16 grams) of gold recovered from two Agrani bank lockers were not solely owned by convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as those were deposited under the names of her, her sister Sheikh Rehana, daughter Saima Wazed Putul and other family members. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) spokesperson Aktarul Islam disclosed this at a press briefing at its headquarters on Wednesday. He said the ACC said it will review the full list of gold ornaments recovered from bank lockers, verify ownership of each item and conduct expert valuation of the gold. Aktarul Islam said the drive was conducted as part of a reinvestigation into the wealth statement she submitted in 2007. Masudur Rahman, deputy director of the ACC’s Special Inquiry and Investigation-1 unit, led the drive. Following ACC approval, the investigating officer filed a petition with the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on September 14 seeking permission to open the lockers listed in the 2007 wealth statement, he said. The court granted the request and ordered that the lockers be opened in the presence of a judicial magistrate, ACC officials, a Bangladesh Bank–nominated gold specialist, two officials from the NBR’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), and officials of the respective banks. In line with the directive, the ACC on Tuesday opened one locker at Pubali Bank PLC’s Motijheel Corporate Branch and two lockers at Agrani Bank PLC’s Principal Branch. At the Motijheel branch of Pubali Bank, the locker registered to Sheikh Hasina contained only an empty jute bag. At Agrani Bank’s Principal Branch, a locker held jointly by Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul contained about 4,923.60 grams of gold ornaments, while another locker held jointly by Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana contained around 4,783.56 grams, the ACC official said.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) recovered an abandoned sound grenade of Bangladesh police from a house along Sylhet–Sunamganj bypass road in Dakkhin Surman upazila of Sylhet district on Tuesday night. It was seized from the house beside a refueling station at Khidirpur village around 1am, KM Shahidul Islam Sohag, media officer of Rab-9, said on Wednesday morning. The elite force handed over it to Dakkhin Surma Police Station. It seems that the grenade was one of the sound grenades looted from a Sylhet police station during last year’s July uprising, he added.