Dhaka, Sept 3 (UNB) – The High Court will now hear on Tuesday a bail petition filed by Shahidul Alam, renowned photographer and Managing Director of Drik Gallery, in a case filed under the ICT Act. 

An HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman fixed the date on Monday following a time petition filed by Deputy Attorney General Arbinda Kumar Roy.

Barrister Sarah Hossain stood for Shahidul Alam while Arbinda Kumar Roy represented the state.

Earlier on August 29, the High Court set September 3 to hear the bail petition of Shahidul Alam in the case.

His lawyers filed the bail petition on August 28.

Detectives arrested Shahidul Alam from his Dhanmondi residence on August 5 and the case was filed against him with Ramna Police Station on August 6. He was also placed on a seven-day remand in the case. 

Police claimed that he spread propaganda through his Facebook account during the student movement demanding safe roads which is harmful for the state.
 

Rajbari, Sept 2 (UNB) – An alleged member of an outlawed party was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Alamdanga area of Kalukhali upazila early Saturday.
 
The deceased was identified as Abdul Matin, 35, son of Abdul Aziz of the area.
 
Being tipped-off that outlaws were holding a secret meeting, a team of police conducted a drive in the area around 1:30 am, said Amirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kalukhali Police Station.
 
When the team reached there, the gang members opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate, triggering the gunfight which left Matin dead on the spot.
 
Police recovered a one shooter gun, 2 cartridges, several bullet shells and sharp weapons from the spot, the OC added.
 

Dhaka, Sept 2 (UNB) – Welcoming the move of Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and others to form an alliance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said it will give the anti-Awami League people a new platform to stand in.

"I welcome their alliance. Let the unity prevails… this is good. This will be a great relief for the anti-AL people," she said.

The Prime Minister further said, “There’re two parties in Bangladesh -- Awami League and anti-Awami League. The anti-Awami League people will have to have somewhere to go."

She was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganobhaban to brief the media about the outcomes of her just-concluded visit to Nepal for attending the 4th Bimstec summit.

Recently, Dr Kamal, B Chowhdury, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, ASM Abdur Rob and Kader Siddique agreed to forge a national unity ahead of the general election.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said the new combine will be a good one at least. "We’ll contest the election. I hope they’ll also take part in the polls in alliance." 

She said there should be an alternative in the country. "I convey my good wishes to them." 

Replying to a query, the Prime Minister questioned whether Dr Kamal Hossain and his associates really want the election. “There’s a section of people in Bangladesh who always sit there thinking that if there’s any unconstitutional and unelected government, they’ll get the flag… they’ll get some importance," she said.

Referring to Dr Kamal's recent remarks that there will be no election in the country, she said that means they are waiting for this. "If anything happens in our country, all look at Uttarpara. This is the reality. Anything might happen. My father was killed and there were attempts to kill me in broad daylight," she said.

The AL chief said Dr Kamal and his ‘companies’ do not want healthy democracy. "They utter democracy only in mouths but want to go to power through an undemocratic way." 

She also said a section of political parties wants to cash in on any sort of movement, even a non-political one. "I watch the movement first and allow it to advance. When I see any other party tries to capitalise on that movement, I separate the movement and the vested party stumbles on the ground." 

The Prime Minister said if anyone wants anything from her, he or she has to go for movement to realise it. "I won’t give anything without a movement. Mr Kamal and his associates have to go for a movement," she said, adding that if they become successful in their movement and if anyone comes from Uttarpara, they will attain success.
 

Dhaka, Sept 2 (UNB) - Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on Sunday said the government will not allow anyone to create any chaos in the country by doing politics in the name of religion.

“We believe religion is for individuals, but the festival is for everyone,” he said while speaking at a discussion in Faridpur. 

Faridpur Puja Celebration Committee arranged the programme at Sridham Sree Angan, marking Janmashtami, the birth celebration of Lord Sri Krishna.

The minister also inaugurated a colourful rally brought by the Hindu community members on the occasion.

Mosharraf said people of all regions and colours have been living in the country in peace for ages.

He said Lord Krishna appeared on the earth from heaven on this day to remove evil acts and suppress the devils.

The minister hoped that Sri Krishna’s ideals and teachings will strengthen the bonds, communal harmony and brotherhood in the country further.

The country’s Hindu community celebrated Janmashtami on Sunday with due religious fervour.

According to Hindu religion, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the universe as Lord Krishna in the prison of Raja Kangsa on this day, the eighth of “Shukla Pakkha” (bright fortnight) in the month of Bengali calendar Bhadra in Dwapara Yuga to protect “Dharma” from the hands of devils.

Dhaka, Sept 1 (UNB) – Traffic Department under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)  filed 2921 cases and collected fines amounting to Tk 15.46 lakh (over 1.5 million) during the daylong drive against traffic rules violators in the capital on Friday.

Besides, 30 vehicles were dumped and 510 other vehicles were put on the wrecker during the drive.

Sources at the DMP said traffic police filed cases against vehicles for various charges, including violation of traffic rules, using hydraulic horn, beacon light, dark-tinted glass, as well as for plying their vehicle on the wrong side of the road.

Among the cases, 205 cases were filed for plying the vehicles on the wrong side of the road, 24 for using hydraulic horns, four for beacon light and 13 microbus for using dark-tinted glass.

Besides, cases were also filed against 992 motorcycles for violating traffic rules and 49 other motor cycles were detained during the time, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the DMP Masudur Rahman.

He said 12 cases were filed in connection with talking over mobile phones during driving vehicles.

The Traffic Department of the DMP conducted special drive as part of its routine initiatives, he said.