Law-&-Order
7 years in condemn cell despite acquittal: HC orders judicial inquiry
The High Court on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter of Abul Kashem who has been languishing in the condemned cell for seven years despite his acquittal in a murder case in Chattogram's Lohagara upazila.
The HC bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Bashir Ullah passed the order.
The registrar of the High Court was asked to investigate the matter and submit a report by August 25.
Lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the appeal in the court while Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi for the state.
Kashem was made an accused in the case over the killing of Jane Alam on March 30, 2002 in the upazila.
Read: HC orders providing Tk 5 lakh to legal guardian of the baby born on road in Mymensingh
On August 4, following a report published on a news portal over the matter, Shishir Monir requested an investigation into the case of Abul Kashem who was acquitted by the High Court seven years ago in the murder case.
On July 24 in 2007, the Chattogram court sentenced 12 accused, including Abul Kashem, to death and eight to life imprisonment. Kashem was tried in absentia.
On April 14 in 2015, Additional Chattogram District and Sessions Judge Court-1 sent Abul Kashem to jail when he appeared before the court in another case and had been in the prison's condemned cell since then.
On February 2013, the HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Shahidul Karim acquitted Abul Kashem from the case.
The order of his acquittal reached the Chattogram court from the High Court in due course but not to the jail authorities even after 7 years.
6 held for swindling money from job seekers
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) claimed to have arrested six members of a fraud ring from Dhaka's Mirpur as they swindled a large sum of money from job seekers with false promises.
The accused are Md Masum Billah, 33, Khairul Alam Rocky, 20, Md Kamruzzaman, 22, Md Mahmudul Hasan, 32, Masud Rana, 24, and SM Raihan, 24.
Rab also seized cash, eight mobile phones, SIM cards, fake appointment letters; a keyboard, CPU, monitor, laptop, and resumes of job seekers during its drive Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Bina Rani Das of Rab-3 said Thursday.
Read: 6 fraud gang members involved in making 144 types of fake certificates held
The arrestees published fake advertisements for different jobs – including those of security guards, assistant supervisors, and marketing officers – on social media using the name SSF Private Company.
The fraudsters told the police that they were also deceived by fake job advertisements on social media before making a profession out of it.
Legal actions will be taken against the arrestees, Bina Rani said.
HC summons ACC IO over exemption of accused in Sonali Bank loan scam case
The High Court on Thursday summoned an investigation officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission for submitting a report seeking exemption of the accused in Tk 12.89 lakh loan scam case of Sonali Bank.
HC bench of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Khan passed the order during a hearing on the review appeal on the exemption order.
The bench asked the then deputy director of ACC and investigation officer in the case Nur Hossain to appear before the court Monday and explain his action.
Also read: 36 cops sued over killing of Bhola Swechchasebak Dal leader
Dr Golam Rahman Bhuiyan appeared for the Sonali Bank and advocate ABm Bayezid for the ACC while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing.
On January7, 2013, Miron Mia, then Assistant Manager of Sonali Bank, filed a case at Shahbagh police station against former Deputy General Manager Altaf Hossain Howlader, Chairman of Melba Textiles Mills Morshed Razzak and Managing Director Zaki Ahmed.
According to the complaint, DGM Altaf Hossain Howlader from 2003 to 2006 in collusion with other accused embezzled Tk 12,89,63,679 giving loan to Melba Textiles Mills.
Also read: Why 2 NSU trustees should not be granted bail: HC
On 25 May,2014, ACC’s IO in the case submitted a report seeking exemption of the accused from the charges.
On June 30, 2014, a Dhaka court exempted all the accused accepting the final report.
Later, the plaintiff moved High Court seeking revision of the order.
On June 15, 2015, the High Court issued a rule questioning why the exemption order should not be cancelled.
DMP to take action against propaganda about Tazia procession
Dhaka Metropolitan Police will monitor and take action against dissemination of hateful comments or propaganda on Tazia processions of the Shia community on social media during Holy Ashura.
DMP commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said this at press briefing on the security measures taken regarding Tazia procession and observence of Holy Ashura at old Dhaka’s Imambara Husaini Dalan on Thursday.
“We don’t have any information of sabotage centering the Tazia procession but all the roads the procession will cross will remain under tight security blanket,” the DMP commissioner said replying to a journalist’s question.
Also read: Holy Ashura on Aug 9, Muharram Sunday
He said Tazia processions will be brought out on August 7 and it will continue till August 9. “In some places the festivities may start from August 6 but the main program will continue for four days,” he added.
Police personnel will remain deployed at different points of the capital as well as on rooftops of buildings, he said.
“Bomb disposal unit and dog squad will sweep the roads through which the procession will pass, “ he said.
Raids and block raids will be conducted in hotels of the adjacent areas one or two days before the Ashura, said the DMP Commissioner.
Also read: Intensify searching in hotels, messes to prevent subversive acts: DMP commissioner
Holy Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), will be observed in the country on August 9.
DU teacher Samia’s demotion illegal: HC
The High Court on Thursday declared illegal the decision of Dhaka University demoting its teacher Samia Rahman on charges of plagiarism in research papers.
The HC bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman passed the order after hearing a rule on legality of demoting the Dhaka University teacher.
It also asked the DU authorities to reinstate Samia to the post of associate professor with all previous facilities.
Barrister Hasan MS Azmi stood for Samia while deputy attorney general Nauroz Md Russel Chowdhury represented the state.
Read: HC questions legality of demoting DU teacher Samia Rahman
The DU syndicate committee downgraded Samia from associate professor to assistant professor on January 28 last year as punishment for alleged plagiarism in a research paper.
On August 31, 2021, Samia filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the decision of the university
On September 5, 2021, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the demotion of Samia should not be declared illegal.
The court also asked the DU Vice Chancellor and others involved to respond to the rule within four weeks and instructed them to submit all the documents against Samia within 21 days.
In December, 2016, an eight paged article, “A New Dimension in Colonialism and Pop Culture: A Case Study of Cultural Imperialism” jointly authored by Samia and DU lecturer Syed Mahfuzul Haque Marzan was published in the DU Social Science Review Journal.
Following the publication of their article in the journal, Alex Martin, who introduced himself as an administrative assistant of Chicago Journal, sent a written complaint to the DU in 2017 claiming that the article copied from Michel Foucault’s ’The Subject and Power’.
Later, the DU authorities formed an investigation committee to look into the allegation on September 27, 2017.
The committee submitted a report in 2020 finding the accused guilty.
A panel was formed in October, 2020 making the Dean of DU Law Faculty and syndicate committee member Professor Md Rahmat Ullah the convener to recommend academic punishment for the accused.
Accidents at level crossings: Writ petition seeks judicial probe & compensation
A writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) on Wednesday seeking its directive to the authorities concerned for conducting a judicial probe into the accidents at the level crossings across the country.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul filed a writ petition on behalf of Dhaka University (DU) student Mohiuddin Roni.
The writ petition sought directive to pay compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured victims of train accidents in Chattogram and Gopalganj.
The writ petition also sought the formation of a committee headed by a former judge of the Appellate Division to probe the accidents, said Tapas Kanti.
Read: Irregularities in train ticket sale: HC stays realisation of fine from Shohoz
The Home Affairs Secretary, Law Secretary and Railways Secretary were made respondents to the writ petition.
Tapas Kanti said he presented the writ petition for hearing at a bench of the High Court today, but Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia refused to hear the writ petition. “Now I will present the writ petition in another bench of the High Court for hearing.”
On July 29, a speeding express train rammed into a microbus at a level crossing at Mirsharai upazila on Friday, killing at least 11 people who were returning from a visit to a popular waterfall in the hills of the area.
A court sent gateman Saddam Hussain to jail in the case filed over that accident.
On July 21, five construction workers were killed and three injured as a train rammed a concrete mixer three-wheeler at a level crossing in Gopalganj's Kashiani upazila.
Chief Justice presents annual report on JSC to President Hamid
Chief Justice Hasan Faiz Siddiqui on Tuesday presented the Annual Report of Judicial Service Commission-2021 to President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Tuesday evening.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the meeting.
During the meeting, the Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission briefed the President about the overall activities of the Commission and various aspects of the annual report.
The President emphasized on timely training in various subjects including information technology to increase the professional skills of the judges.
Read: The chief justice meets President Hamid and brief him about SC activities: Bangabhaban
Hamid also urged the judges to perform their duties with more honesty, devotion and sincerity so that the people get justice quickly.
The member of the commission Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder, Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin, Law and Justice Department Secretary Golam Sarwar and District and Sessions Judge Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan were present.
President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Zainal Abedin were also present at the time.
Why 2 NSU trustees should not be granted bail: HC
The High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued a rule seeking explanation as to why two trustee board members of North South University (NSU) should not be granted bail in a case over embezzling money in the name of buying land for the univeristy.
The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat issued the rule after turning down the bail pleas of two trustees-MA Kashem and Rehana Rahman.
Advocate Sayed Ahmed Raza and Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared for the bail petitioners.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
On 22 May, the HC ordered Shahbagh police to arrest four NSU trustees after rejecting their anticipatory bail pleas in the case.
The other accused trustees are- Benazir Ahmed and Muhammad Shahjahan.
Read:HC: Bangladesh Railway gets 7 days more to submit report on mismanagement
On May 5, the ACC sued the chairman of the board of trustees of North South University (NSU) Azim Uddin Ahmed and five others for embezzling Tk 303.82 crore in the name of buying land for the campus.
Another accused is- Managing director of Ashalaya Housing and Developers Limited Amin Mobammad Hilali.
ACC's Deputy Director Farid Ahmed Patwar filed the case.
According to the Private University Act, 2010, the Board of Trustees is the highest governing body of a private university like North South University. According to the Memorandum of Association and Articles (Rules and Regulations) of the University, the University is a charitable, welfare oriented, non-commercial and non-profit educational institution, said the case statement.
The case states that over 9088 decimal land was bought in the name of campus development of NSU with the consent of some members of the Board of Trustees bypassing the approval of the University Syndicate, University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education.
They later withdrew cash from the buyer through cash checks in their own names and kept FDR in their own names.
They unjustly benefited themselves by committing illegal activities through misuse of power and embezzling university and government funds, according to the case.
In carrying out such illegal activities, they have committed a punishable offense by resorting to fraud and forgery and exchanging commissions.
HC directs JaPa leader Ruhul Amin to surrender within two weeks
The High Court on Monday ordered former Jatiya Party General Secretary ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader to surrender within two weeks in a graft case.
Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir hayat Khan passed the order with issuing a rule.
On January 21, 2021 Ruhul Amin was exempted from a 30-year-old graft case by Dhaka divisional special judge court. The Anti-Corruption Council later moved to the High Court seeking review of the order.
Also read: SC stays bail of Regent Chairman Shahed in graft case
“The court issued a rule today questioning why the exemption order will not be repealed and asked Ruhul Amin to surrender within two weeks of getting the order,” said advocate AKm Fazlul Haque, representing ACC at the court.
On November 19, 1991, Md Delwar Hossain, Deputy Director of then Corruption Bureau filed a case against Ruhul Amin at Tejgaon police station for taking financial benefit during his tenure as Textile and Jute Minister. He was accused of illegally giving a work order to an organization worth Tk 31.54 lakh.
In 1989, another case was filed against him at Ramna police station for embezzling Tk 40, 643 in his tenure as the health minister. In that case, the trial court exonerated Ruhul Amin on December6, last year.
Also read: ACC sues Khulna food inspector, wife
On March 7, this year, the High Court ordered him to surrender within four weeks upon receiving an appeal from ACC.
SC stays bail of Regent Chairman Shahed in graft case
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the bail of Regent Hospital Chairman Mohammad Shahed in a corruption case filed on charge of embezzling Tk2.75 crore from Padma Bank (formerly Farmers Bank).
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
On July 28, the High Court granted permanent bail to Shahed in a corruption case.
Also read: Shahjahanpur double murder: 2 more held in city
Later, ACC filed a petition challenging the bail order of the High Court.
In 2020, ACC Deputy Director Md Shahjahan Miraj lodged a complaint against four people, including Shahed. Police filed an FIR in this connection.
On July 6, 2020, Rab raided the Uttara and Mirpur branches of Regent Hospital. During the operation, fake Covid test reports, and various irregularities including collection of money from patients in the name of Covid treatment were unveiled.
Also read: HC: Bangladesh Railway gets 7 days more to submit report on mismanagement
On July 15, from the border area of Satkhira, Shahed was arrested by RAB. Shahed has been in jail since then.
More than 36 cases have been filed against Shahed on allegations of different irregularities.