Law-&-Order
Rights landscape sees advent of ‘ghost’ cases, alarming rise in custodial deaths
The number of 'ghost' cases (gayebi in Bangla), arrests of political leaders and activists and the use of the police force for political ends continues unabated in the country, according to a human rights monitoring report.
The term ‘ghost’ cases was coined by opposition activists to describe a category of false case filed against someone who is not even present at the scene of the crime, hence gayebi or ‘ghost’.
Contrary to an impression that grew in the wake of the US government’s sanctions against paramilitary force RAB as an entity and seven present or former personnel last December, the report by the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (Human Rights Culture Foundation, or MSF) finds extrajudicial killings in what are claimed to be ‘gunfights’ have not stopped, while deaths, torture and harassment in police custody or prison have increased significantly.
Meanwhile the incidence of violence against women and children, including rape, declined in November, but still remains at alarming levels.
Read more: BNP at IGP’s door; Seeks remedy for ‘fictitious’ cases
MSF, which was founded by renowned human rights activist Sultana Kamal as an entity committed to protect and promote human rights across the country, revealed the findings in its monthly human rights monitoring report for November this year.
MSF prepared the monthly report based on news published in various national dailies, besides reporting by its own sources, from November 1 to 30 this year.
According to the MSF report, the police and pro-Awami League men conducted various activities centering the divisional rallies of opposition party BNP in order to prevent the leaders, workers and supporters of the opposition parties from going to the meeting place.
Especially, the public transport workers and owners’ leaders used the transport sector for political interests, preventing road and waterway communication to the rally venues in the name of strikes.
The law enforcement agencies and the government party workers’ obstruction of opposition leaders, supporters and activists' who were going to join the rally from different places were gross violations of civil and political rights, the MSF said in its report.
According to data collected by MSF from media reports, 40 'ghost' cases were filed centring the BNP's Rajshahi divisional rally in November month alone, with over 10,000 accused.
A BNP delegation led by the party's Vice-Chairman Barkatullah Bulu met IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun at the Police Headquarters (PHQ) this week, where Bulu told reporters after the meeting: "Members of police and Awami League men are exploding crude bombs but cases are being filed against BNP men. They are being arrested in ‘ghost’ cases."
During November, 59 incidents of political violence occurred, as recorded by MSF. A total of seven people were killed in political violence, including one Chhatra Dal leader killed in police firing. Apart from this, a total of 527 people were victims of violence, out of which 10 people are under treatment in hospitals with serious gunshot wounds, 517 people are injured.
There were five incidents of extrajudicial killings claimed to be ‘gunfights’ in November. One youth and one woman were killed in two incidents of alleged firing, while one Rohingya woman and three (3) others were shot and seriously injured in two other separate incidents.
Read more: HC turns down plea seeking panel to probe 'fictitious' cases
According to the MSF report, three people died while attempting to escape the custody of law enforcement agencies, of whom one died by jumping into water while trying to escape arrest, one died after falling from a roof while trying to escape and one person died after hitting a tree while trying to escape.
Besides, eight people including one woman died in prison custody, which is denoted as ‘very alarming’ by MSF. The number of such deaths was three in the previous month of October.
Due to inadequate treatment facilities in jail, most of the sick prisoners were taken to the Medical College Hospital outside the jail and declared dead by the doctor on duty.
MSF believes that inmates inside prisons are living inhumane lives with mental and physical problems. As a result, in addition to improving the medical system, MSF urged the authorities to properly investigate each death in custody.
Bomb attack: 8 cleared of charges in 2003 death of Khulna policemen
A Khulna court on Thursday cleared eight accused of charges in the 2003 death of two policemen in a bomb attack.
Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Judge Mahmuda Khatun gave the order during a hearing.
The acquitted are Abdur Rashi Malitha Tapan, Milan, Kamal, Biplab, Sheikh Sahadat Hossain Raju, Asaduzzaman Tipu, Ekram Hossain, and Rafiqul Islam Milton, lawyer KM Iqbal Hossain, who represented the state, said.
Read: HC summons 3 Khulna lawyers to face contempt charges
According to the case complaint, on March 3, 2003, policemen Shariful, Ramesh Chandra, Nizam Uddin and Maniruzzaman were on duty at the Power House intersection of Khulna city.
Around 7:50pm some unidentified people hurled a bomb at them which blew off Maniruzzaman's legs completely and left Shariful and Ramesh severely injured.
Later, Shariful and Ramesh were declared dead after being rushed to the hospital.
Sonadanga Police Station Sub-Inspector Ashraful Islam filed two cases under the Explosive Substances Act 1908 against unnamed people.
Read: Police press chargesheet within 24 hrs of murder case in Manikganj
On September 4, 2004, police submitted a charge sheet to the court against nine people.
Of the accused, Riazul Islam Masud died; of the acquitted, Raju was in jail. Milton, Tipu, and Milan were out on bail; Ekram, Kamal, Biplab and Malitha remained absconding.
Sagar-Runi murder case: Probe report submission deferred for 94th time
The date of submitting the probe report in journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case has been deferred for the 94th time.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashedul Alam fixed January 4 for the submission of investigation report during a hearing after investigating agency Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) didn’t submit the report today.
Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead in their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area on 11 February 2012.
Nousher Ali Roman, brother of Runi, filed a case with Sher-e-Banglanagar Police Station on the following day.
Police arrested Tanvir in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014.
Read more: Sagar-Runi murder: Final hearing on 10-year old HC rule on Tuesday
Law enforcers have so far arrested eight people, including Tanvir, in connection with the murder case.
The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal.
Read more: Sagar-Runi Murder: Govt urged to bring perpetrators to justice Sagar-Runi Murder: Govt urged to bring perpetrators to justice
Militants’ escape: 10 Ansar-al-Islam members put on another 5-day remand
A Dhaka court on Thursday placed 10 members of Ansar-al-Islam, accused in a case over snatching of two convicted militants from police custody, on a five-day fresh remand.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin passed the order after investigation officer of the case and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Inspector Muhammad Abul Kalam Azad sought a 10-day remand producing the accused before the court.
Those remanded are Shahin Alam alias Kamal, Shah Alam alias Salauddin, BM Mojibur Rahman, Suman Hossain Patwary, Arafat Rahman, Khairul Islam alias Sifat, Mozammel Hossain, Sheikh Abdullah, Abdur Sabur, and Rashidunnabi Bhuiyan.
Read more: Militants' escape: Another put on 4-day remand
On Novermber 20, two members of the banned militant outfit Ansar-al Islam Abu Siddique Sohel and Moinul Hasan Shamim, who were sentenced to death in publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan's murder case, were whisked away by their associates by beating police and spraying some chemicals on their eyes at Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate court arena.
They also tried to snatch two other accused Arafat and Sabur but failed. Later police arrested the two accused from the court premises.
Read more: Ansar-al-Islam member put on 7-day remand for link to escape of 2 militants
Court Inspector Julhas filed a case against 20 people and seven or eight more anonymous in this connection.
HC upholds bdnews24.com editor’s bail order
The High Court (HC) on Thursday upheld the trial court’s order granting bail to bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accusing the journalist of amassing wealth illegally.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after disposing of the rule seeking cancelation of the bail order.
Read more: Top court upholds bdnews24.com editor’s anticipatory bail order
However, he will have to seek permission from the trial court for going abroad.
Senior lawyer Yusuf Hussain Humayun, advocate Shahriar Kabir and barrister Mahbub Shafiq appeared for Khalidi in the court while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC.
ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anowar filed the case on July 30 in 2020.
According to the case statement, Khalidi has Tk 42 crore in different bank accounts which have no legal source.
On August 26, the High Court granted anticipatory bail to Khalidi for eight weeks.
Later, the ACC filed the petition with the Appellate Division challenging the HC order. However, the Appellate Division upheld the HC order on September 21.
Read more: HC grants bail to ex-LGRD minister’s APS in money laundering case
On October 20, Khalidi surrendered to Dhaka Senior Special Judge's Court and sought bail. After the hearing, the court granted him interim bail till November 25.
On November 25, the court granted him the permanent bail.
Later on December 8, 2020, following ACC’s petition seeking cancellation of the bail order, the HC issued a rule questioning why the bail granted to bdnews24.com rditor by the trial court should not be canceled.
Ayat’s head recovered from Ctg canal, PBI says
Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), this morning, recovered the severed head of five-year-old Ayat, who was abducted and murdered in Chattogram, from a canal in the port city.
Illias Khan, PBI inspector in Chattogram, said that they recovered the head from a canal near a sluice gate in EPZ area on Akmal Ali Road, following information from the accused Abir.
He said two teams of 25 PBI personnel have been searching for Ayat’s remains for the last three days at the spot where the remains were dumped.
Read more: Remains of 5-year-old Ayat recovered from Chattogram canal
“Ayat’s face has been disfigured and it is difficult to identify, but it should be her head,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ayat’s remains were recovered from the canal on Akmal Ali Road in Chattogram city.
On November 25, PBI arrested Abir Ali (20) for kidnapping and murdering Alina Islam Ayat, 10 days after the child went missing.
Accused Abir, an ex-tenant of the victim’s family, kidnapped the child on November 15 for ransom when she was on her way to a mosque for Arabic lessons, at Bandartila area in Chattogram.
Abir strangled the girl to death and later chopped her body into six pieces. He subsequently dumped the body parts, wrapped in two bags, on the beach in the city’s Kattali area.
Read more: Ayat murder in Ctg: Accused’s parents put on 3-day remand
Ayat’s father, Sohel Rana, lodged a general diary at the local police station after she went missing, police said. Abir was put on another seven-day remand on Monday on completion of his two-day remand. Abir’s parents Azharul Islam and Aleya Begum were placed on a three-day remand on Tuesday.
GM Quader cannot perform duties as JaPa Chairman, Chamber Judge stays HC order
The Appellate Division on Wednesday stayed the High Court order allowing Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader to perform the duties of his post.
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division M Enayetur Rahim passed the order following an appeal against the HC order.
The Appellate Division stayed the HC order till Monday for hearing in the full bench.
Read more: GM Quader can perform party activities: HC
With this order, the restriction on the activities of GM Quader as party chairman has been upheld, said plaintiff’s counsel Barrister Sayed Ahmed Raja.
On Tuesday, HC cleared the way for GM Quader to perform his duties as Jatiya Party Chairman by staying the lower court embargo till January 3 following a revision petition.
Jatiya Party's suspended leader and former lawmaker Ziaul Haque Mridha filed the case against GM Quader on October 4.
On October 30, Dhaka Joint District Sessions Judge court-1 issued a temporary embargo on the political activities of GM Quader.
On October 6, several lawyers including Sheikh Sirajul Islam and Kalim Ullah Majumdar stood for GM Quader with a petition to withdraw the ban on his political activities at the court.
In the petition, the lawyers also urged the court to lift the embargo to play his role as Chairman as per the constitution of the party that was dismissed by the same court on November 16.
Read more: JP: Court clears petition on withdrawal of ban of GM Quader’s party activities
Later, Quader filed a revision petition with the HC challenging the lower court order.
According to the case statement, the party’s founder HM Ershad died on September 14, 2019.
Quader declared himself as chairman of the party through forgery at a council on December 28, 2019 when a writ petition case was pending at the High Court.
Later, Quader as party chairman fired several leaders including Ranga, Gazipur metropolitan unit’s advisor Ataur Rahman Sarkar and Organising Secretary Sabur Sikdar, among others, by exercising his power as per the constitution of the party.
Besides, Ranga was also removed from the post of presidium member of the party on September 14 and Advocate Ziaul Hoque Mridha from the party on September 17.
In the case, orders were sought to declare all removals from December 28, 2019, to September 17, 2022 and council as illegal while the next council of the party to keep stayed unless the HC writ petition is disposed of.
6 get life term for murder during robbery in Kushtia
A Kushtia court on Wednesday sentenced six people to life term imprisonment for killing a man during a robbery in Daulatdia upazila of the district over 20 years back.
Kushtia Additional District and Sessions Judge Court Md Tajul Islam also fined the convicts Tk 25,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more imprisonment, said Anup Kumar Nandy, public prosecutor of the court.
Read more: 3 get life term for killing man in Kushtia
The convicts are Swapon, Naharul, Mokbul, Shafi, Shahjahan, and Ajmal, all are residents of the upazila.
The court also acquitted eight other people as the allegations brought against them could not be proved, the lawyer said.
Of them, Swapon, Mokbul and Naharul were tried in absentia.
According to the case statement, a group of robbers equipped with lethal weapons committed robbery at the house of one Shahjahan Ali in Philipnagar village under the upazila on April 27, 2002.
The robbers killed Shahjahan Ali when he tried to resist the robbers while they were fleeing with valuables.
Read more: 7 get life term for murder in Chattogram
On the following day, victim’s son Borhan Uddin Bappi filed a murder case at the local police station.
Gold worth over Tk 8.5cr seized in Chuadanga, Jhenaidah; one detained
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members seized 91 gold bars weighing 11.73 kg from Chuadanga and Jhenaidah districts on Tuesday.
Tipped off, a team of BGB conducted a drive in Darshana Thana in Jhenaidah on Tuesday and detained a man while he was taking six gold bars to Jibannagar upazila, said Mohammad Saiful Islam, assistant director of BGB-58 battalion.
Read more: 9 gold bars seized in Benapole
The detainee is Abdus Shukur,35, son of Tabir Rahman of Nutanpara village of Chuadanga's Jibannagar upazila.
Later, the gold bars worth around Tk 51 lakh were recovered from his possesion, the officer said.
A case will be filed against the detainee, he said adding that the gold bars will be handed over to Darshana police.
In Jhenaidah, a special patrol team of Jadavpur BOP under Maheshpur Battalion conducted an operation in Gopalpur village in Maheshpur upazila.
Read more: 80 gold bars seized from Jashore border
During the drive, 85 gold bars weighing 11.390 kg were recovered by digging soil in a banana orchard.
The seized gold worth over Tk 8 crore will be deposited at the Jhenaidah Treasury Office after filing a case at Maheshpur Police Station, said Saiful Islam.
Rohingya leader shot, stabbed to death in Cox’s Bazar
Unidentified assailants shot and stabbed to death a Rohingya leader in a refugee camp in Ukhiya upazila of the district early Tuesday.
Shahab Uddin, 35, was a sub-leader, locally known as sub-majhi, of the No 12 Rohingya camp. He was also son of Monir Ahmed of the H/14 Block of the same camp.
Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya police station, said a group of criminals numbering 20 to 30 swooped on him after entering his house around 4.30am.
Read more: 29 indicted for killing Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah
The criminals stabbed him in the chest, right hand and other organs of the body and shot him to ensure his death, leaving him dead on the spot, he said.
“Primarily it was learned that trying to establish influence over several groups at the camp led to the killing,” he said, adding that the exact reason for the murder could not be known from the victim’s family and others.
Read more: Two more Rohingya community leaders killed in ambush inside camps
The patrolling by the law enforcers was beefed up to ward off any further incident, the OC said, adding that the body was sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.