United News of Bangladesh

Mohammad Atiqul Islam, former mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), was arrested in the capital on Wednesday. A team of Mohammadpur police arrested him from Mohakhali DOHS area in the evening, said Deputy Commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Talebur Rahman. DB arrests ex-food minister Sadhan Chandra from Dhaka’s Bhatara The police official, however, did not disclose in which case he was arrested.

Former Director General (DG) of Postal Department Sudhanshu Shekhar Bhadra was arrested on Tuesday night. Md Akhtarul Islam, public relations officer of the anti-graft watchdog, confirmed the matter, saying that ACC deputy assistant director Nazir Akanda, in association with detectives, arrested him. A process was underway to produce him before a Dhaka court, he said. Earlier on August 20, the ACC filed a case against him. Read: ACC approves case against former Postal Department officials over alleged corruption in govt project According to the case statement, an agreement was signed with the state-owned Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) to purchase 500 HPE ML-30 servers and other electronic goods, including UPS, under the 'Post-e-Center' project of the postal department. The government money has been misused violating Section 23 of the Public Finance and Budget Management Act, 2009 by purchasing servers and UPS for the allocated Tk 15 crore 11 lakh 42 thousand of the agreement, it reads.

The High Court (HC) has issued an order directing the authorities to conclude the long-pending investigation into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi within six months. An HC bench, led by Justice Farah Mahbub, passed the order after releasing a full-fledged verdict on the formation of a six member high-powered task force to probe the double murders. On September 30, the HC ordered the formation of the task force to probe the case that remained unsolved for 12 years. The court also directed the Home Ministry to execute the decision after removing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation as the elite force had repeatedly been failing to submit the probe report. Earlier, the submission date of the probe report on the double murders has been deferred for the 114th time till October 15. On October 1 this year, Runi’s brother Nowsher filed a petition with a trial court seeking permission for appointment of nine lawyers to assist the state in the case. Later, the court appointed nine lawyers, including Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir. On October 10, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Moinul Islam said police started reinvestigating the case. Read: Sagar-Runi murder: Court approves appointing 9 lawyers to assist public prosecutor On the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarowar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh (then 5 years old), was present in the house at the time of the killings. Runi's brother, Nowsher, filed a murder case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Initially, the case was assigned to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station for investigation. Three days later, it was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) of police. After DB failed to make progress, the case was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012. Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014. Read more: Sagar-Runi murder: HC orders removal of RAB from probe, formation of task force 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. Out of the eight people arrested in connection with the case, two were granted bail, while the others are in jail. RAB Additional SP Khandaker Md Shafiqul Alam was appointed as the seventh investigation officer in the case on July 7, 2019.

A High Court (HC) justice and some lawyers got into an argument on Tuesday when bench officials were accused of preparing daily work log in exchange of money. Chaos ensued in the court, forcing Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan to leave the bench, consisting of another Justice AKM Hafizul Alam. Twenty-six lawyers submitted a written complaint to Chief Justice (CJ) Syed Refaat Ahmed in this regard while he reconstituted the bench. Barrister Ashraf Rahman, representing his fellows, drew attention of the HC bench about the allegation of setting daily work log in exchange of money. Seeking apology, at first the lawyer said, “Honorable Court, the bench officials of your court didn’t properly provide the daily work log of the submitted all cases taking unfair means, resulting in a deprivation of many lawyers.” Being aggrieved Justice Md Ataur replied, “I was a leader of the bar council, who gave you the courage to dare to speak out against my court? Get out, I will hand you over to police to slap you.” At that moment, lawyers strongly protested while the justices left the bench. Read: 23 new HC additional judges take oath The complaint submitted to the CJ reads that widespread irregularities have been noticed in preparing the daily work log and hearing since the inception of the activities of the bench No-7 upon the four-day holiday. Despite informing the court through representatives of the bar council about the irregularities earlier, no visible action has been noticed, according to it. When asked, lawyer Ashraf Rahman said, "The lawyers submitted the bail application in advance last Monday. Some specific cases submitted earlier have come on the work log, all (case) didn't come, resulting in an anger among lawyers. “ Read more: HC withdraws verdict on Grameen Kalyan’s Tk 666 crore tax dispute There are complaints on the Supreme Court premises, those who have given money, their cases have come to work. When this irregularity is openly brought to the attention of the deprivation officials in the court, the justice openly behaved badly, discourteously and unpleasantly. The justice threatened to hurt him (lawyer) physically, he alleged.

Journalists found guilty of involvement in the killings during the anti-discrimination student movement will face trial in the International Crimes Tribunal, according to Dr. Asif Nazrul, the Interim Government’s adviser on law, justice and parliamentary affairs Speaking to reporters after inspecting renovation work at the tribunal's main building on Tuesday, Adviser said, “After following the proper legal procedures and conducting thorough analysis, the prosecution team will take steps to bring the journalists involved as accused in the tribunal. I can assure you that guilty journalists will also face justice, but it will be fair.” Asif Nazrul explains rationale for amending CSA instead of repealing He added, "We are determined to prosecute those responsible for the killings and mass atrocities surrounding the anti-discrimination student movement. The renovation work at the International Crimes Tribunal is progressing rapidly, and we expect to resume proceedings in the main building from November 1." Md. Tajul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the tribunal, mentioned that a reception for the judges will be held in the tribunal’s courtroom on Wednesday. Following that, on Thursday, a bench of three judges, led by Tribunal Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mazumder, will begin proceedings in the courtroom.

Muhammad Faruk Khan, a presidium member of the Awami League and former Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, was arrested early Tuesday from his residence in Dhaka Cantonment. Rabiul Hossain Bhuiyan, Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), confirmed the development. Former Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque arrested in Dhaka Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) made the arrest in the early hours of Tuesday and later handed Faruk over to DB, said Rabiul. RAB arrests ex-Feni MP Rahim Ullah from Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Faruk Khan was accused in several cases over the casualties of the anti-discrimination student movement. He was arrested in a case filed at Paltan Police Station, said the DB official.

The International Crimes Tribunal has been reconstituted with the appointment of Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder of the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court as its new Chairman. This decision was approved by Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul. During a press briefing on Monday, Dr. Nazrul said that the tribunal will be led by Justice Majumder, with Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District and Sessions Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury serving as members of the panel. International Crime Tribunal: Sherpur trio get life imprisonment for crimes against humanity The reconstitution of the tribunal was carried out in consultation with the Supreme Court, and an official notification confirming the appointments is expected to be issued later today. The tribunal is set to begin trials related to the July-August massacres soon, following the completion of the judges' appointments.

A Tk100 crore defamation case has been filed against actress and political activists Shomi Kaiser for allegedly making derogatory comments about BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. The case was initiated on Sunday in the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court of Magura by one Md Rezwan Kabir. According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Advocate Kazi Minhaj, Shomi Kaiser referred to the former president Ziaur Rahman as a "national traitor." Feeling aggrieved, the plaintiff sought legal action, prompting the court to direct the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to look into the matter.

Detectives arrested former Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaque in an operation in the capital’s Eskaton area on Monday evening. A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained Razzaque from a flat at around 7:45 pm, according to Rezaul Karim Mallik, additional commissioner of DB. He was wanted in different cases filed in Dhaka.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against five individuals, including former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, for allegedly obtaining a second passport through forgery, bypassing the required no objection certificate (NOC) from the police department. The case was filed by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam at the commission's integrated district office in Dhaka, ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam confirmed to UNB. Benazir's family accounts show 'abnormal, suspicious' transactions right after ACC investigation made public The other accused in the case are former Director of the Dhaka Division Passport Office, Mohammad Fazlul Haque, former Director Munshi Muyeed Ikram, current Director Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, and Technical Manager of the e-Passport and Automated Border Control Project, Sahena Haque. Benazir Ahmed, who previously held senior positions such as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) at Police Headquarters, Additional IGP, Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), is accused of applying for machine readable passports (MRP) and e-passports without obtaining the necessary departmental clearance. Despite being in police service, he allegedly declared his profession as "private service" on the applications. Benazir's Rupganj property worth Tk 10cr seized According to the ACC, the accused officials, fully aware of Benazir Ahmed’s true identity and official status, knowingly facilitated the process by approving both an ordinary passport and an official e-passport without proper verification. This misconduct is being prosecuted under several sections of the Penal Code. Additionally, they are charged under section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and section 11 of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973. This case follows a recent ACC asset declaration notice served to Benazir Ahmed and his family.