United News of Bangladesh

A Dhaka court on Tuesday approved the appointment of nine lawyers including Advocate Sishir Monir to conduct the case over the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque passed the order after hearing a petition filed by plaintiff Nowsher Ali Roman, brother of Runi to conduct the case at the plaintiff’s own cost. The other lawyers include Advocates Muzahidul Islam, Mizanul Haque, Mostafa Jamal, Abu Russell, Mohiuddin, Abdullah Al Faruk, Iqbal Hossain and Mottakin Hossain. On Monday, Nowsher filed a petition seeking permission for appointment of nine lawyers to assist the state in the case. Sagar-Runi murder: HC orders removal of RAB from probe, formation of task force According to the petition, no investigation report was submitted till today since the death of the journalist couple on February 11, 2011 in their residence. Besides, there is no progress in the case. To dispose of the case soon, more lawyers needed to be appointed to assist the public prosecutor. The High Court on Monday ordered the formation of a high-level task force to investigate the murder case of journalist couple that remained unsolved for 12 years. The court directed the Home Ministry to execute the decision after removing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation. 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 Ali Roman, 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. 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.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Tuesday arrested another accused, who is a relative of  prime accused Ajmeri Osman in a case over the killing Tanvir Mohammad Twaki, from a bus on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj district. The arrestee is Andullah Al Mamun alias Jamai Mamun, 40, son of Abdur Rahim of Barishal district. He is a close relative of Ajmeri Osman, son of AKM Nasim Osman, former lawmaker of Narayanganj-5 constituency. Twaki murder: RAB visits Ajmeri Osman's 'torture cell' in Narayanganj Tipped off, a team of Rab-11 intercepted a Khagrachari-bound bus on Chittagong Road and arrested Mamun early this morning, said a press release of Rab issued on Tuesday afternoon. Seventeen year old Twaki went missing from in front of his house in Narayanganj on March 6, 2013. Rafiur Rabbi, father of Twaki, filed a general diary in this connection. Twaki was later found dead on the banks of the Shitalakhya in Narayanganj on March 8. Then a case was filed with Sadar Model Police Station. Later, RAB's investigation revealed the involvement of Ajmeri Osman, son of Narayanganj late MP Nasim Osman and nephew of former MP Shamim Osman and his associates in the murder of Twaki. Eleven people were directly involved in killing Twaki at a ‘torcher cell’ named ‘Weiner Fashion. Mamun was among them. After the fall of the AL-led government, RAB has so far arrested five people-Yar Mahmud Parvez, Safayet Hussain Shipon, Mamun Mia, Kajal Howladar and Jamshed Sheikh- for their suspected involvement in the murder case. RAB said that all those arrested are close aides of the sons of late Narayanganj MP Nasim Osman and former MP Shamim Osman. Among them, Jamshed Sheikh is Ajmeri Osman's personal driver. Later, Mamun was produced before the court and the court sent him to jail. The court also fixed October 6 for hearing the remand petition, said Court inspector Abdur Rashid.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has announced that police personnel who have failed to rejoin their duties will be considered criminals and brought under the law. He made the remark today during a press briefing following a meeting of the Law and Order Committee at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Speaking to journalists, the adviser clarified, “Those who have not yet rejoined their positions will not be considered as part of the police force. Instead, they will be regarded as criminals. We have already made the decision to recruit new personnel for Ansar, police, and BGB units.” The adviser also confirmed that a notification for the recruitment of sub-inspectors is expected within the next few days. On the topic of police reform, which began on October 1, the adviser clarified that the work is being handled by a separate committee. “The committee will submit their report, based on which the necessary reforms will be implemented,” he explained. At the same briefing, the home adviser highlighted that preparations are underway to ensure that this year's Durga Puja is celebrated safely. “We have taken every possible step to make sure the Puja goes off without any disruptions. We are also working on improving the overall law and order situation, and we expect further improvements in the coming days,” he said. The meeting also covered a wide range of issues, including security at industrial zones like Ashulia, weapons recovery operations, and efforts to combat drug trade. The adviser noted that special attention is being given to safeguarding garments factories and religious shrines across the country. When asked about the possibility of extending the Durga Puja holiday to three days, he said, “This matter does not fall within my purview, and I have never advocated for it.” Addressing the ongoing issues in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Lt Gen Jahangir noted that despite the peace accord, some groups like the UPDF have not surrendered their weapons, unlike the JSS. He acknowledged internal conflicts between these groups and emphasized the need for measures to ensure peaceful coexistence in the region. The adviser also highlighted the importance of preventing the influx of weapons and external training into the area, stating that efforts are being made to address these concerns.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested former public security division secretary Md Jahangir Alam from Dhaka's Gulshan area. DMP Assistant Commissioner (media) Jahangir Kabir confirmed the matter on Tuesday morning. Earlier, the former secretary was sent on compulsory retirement, according to a notification issued by the Public Administration Ministry on August 14.

In a significant development, armed forces personnel have been granted judicial powers across the country, allowing commissioned officers from the Army, Air Force, and Navy to serve as executive magistrates. This information was confirmed on Monday, September 30, following the issuance of a relevant notification by the Ministry of Public Administration on Sunday. The notification, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Jeti Pru of the Ministry, extends this authority to commissioned officers of the armed forces, specifically captains and officers of equivalent rank and above. They will retain these powers for a period of 60 days starting from the date of the notification. According to the notification, commissioned officers of the Army have been granted special executive magistrate powers in accordance with Sections 12(1) and 17 of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898. The document further states that Army officers will be able to exercise their magistracy powers in relation to crimes committed under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code, including Sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142. This move follows a previous notification issued on September 17, which granted judicial powers to the Army by order of the President.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Mainul Hasan said that collective effort is important to addressing the challenges posed by the evolving situation in the country. He said this during a crime review meeting held Monday at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh. "We face many challenges in the changing circumstances, and everyone must work together to overcome them," Hasan said. He said that the police force has successfully navigated a critical period to reach its current position, crediting the progress to the combined efforts of all personnel. “Everyone here has experience regarding the responsibilities and duties of the police, and we all know how to execute our work effectively,” he added. Hasan highlighted the key responsibilities of police stations, stressing the importance of preventive measures to curb crime, investigating the root causes of offenses, and ensuring criminals are brought to justice. He also urged officers to expedite case resolutions and execute pending warrants without unnecessary delays, underscoring the vital role of intelligence gathering in controlling crime.   "We cannot gather intelligence without connecting with the general public," he said. "We must reach out to citizens and strengthen communication to obtain necessary information." Hasan called on officers to analyze crime trends within their precincts and take swift action accordingly. He further instructed that all directives issued during the crime review meeting be followed thoroughly. During the event, the commissioner recognised and awarded officers from various departments for their work in August and September.

Former Assistant Commissioner (Gulshan Zone) of the Detective Branch (DB), Iftekhar Mahmood, has been placed on a three-day remand in connection with the killing of Suman Sikder during the anti-discrimination student movement. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Nurul Huda Chowdhury granted the remand on Monday. The case, filed at Badda Police Station, accused Iftekhar Mahmood of involvement in the shooting death of Suman, which took place on July 19 in the capital's Progoti Sarani during the student protests. DB Inspector Nurul Islam Khan, the investigation officer of the case, produced Mahmood in court and requested a 10-day remand to further investigate his role in the incident. However, the court approved a three-day remand instead. Mahmood was arrested on Sunday, September 29, from the Badda area. No lawyer was present to represent Mahmood during the court hearing. Suman Sikder, 31, was shot dead during the height of the anti-discrimination movement. Following the incident, his mother, Mosammat Masuma, filed a murder case at Badda Police Station on August 20, accusing those responsible for her son's death.

Six years after three BNP workers were killed in what police passed off as separate 'crossfires', their families on Monday filed official complaints accusing several police officers and local political figures. The complaints were lodged at Daulatpur Police Station on Kushtia on Monday morning, with family representatives submitting three separate First Information Reports (FIRs). Among those accused are former Kushtia Superintendent of Police Tanvir Arafat, several police officers, and members of the Awami League and its youth wings. Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur Police Station Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the matter. "We will take the necessary action after consulting with higher authorities," he said. The three BNP workers—Altaf Hossain, Kudrat Ali, and Madan Ali—were killed in separate crossfire incidents between 2018 and 2020. Altaf Hossain, a Jubo Dal member, was killed on May 8, 2018. Madan Ali, killed on October 30, 2018 and Kudrat Ali, killed in July, 2020 were both BNP activists. "My brother, Madan Ali, was pressured by Awami League members to join their party," said Kadam Ali, the brother of Madan Ali and a plaintiff in the case. "When he refused, they falsely accused him in various cases and eventually arranged for his killing in a crossfire." The plaintiffs, accompanied by local BNP leaders, including Daulatpur Upazila BNP President Reza Ahmed Bacchu Mollah, said they were unable to file cases earlier due to an unfavorable political climate. "For 15 years, there was no opportunity to seek justice. Now that conditions have improved, we are pursuing legal action," Bacchu Mollah stated. The complaints have accused several high-ranking police officers, including then-Superintendent of Police SM Tanvir Arafat, the Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur Police Station, and other local law enforcement personnel, as well as political leaders from the ruling Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League. During the previous Awami League government's 15 years in office, the words 'crossfire', 'encounter' or 'gunfight' became bywords for extrajudicial killings committed by law enforcement agencies, which had grown alarmingly before the backlash from the killing of Major (retd) Sinha in Cox's Bazar and sanctions imposed by the United States government, both in the latter half of 2021, forced them to be reined in.

Rapid Action Bangladesh (RAB) has arrested former lawmaker for Sirajganj-2 Jannat Ara Henry and her husband Md Labu Talukdar, former chairman of Sirajganj Zilla Parishad, from Moulvibazar on Monday. A team of RAB-9 conducted a drive in Sonapur area of the town and arrested them from the house of local Delwar Hossain Bachchu at around 3:30pm, said Md Nurannabi, company commander of RAB-9 (Srimangal). They were accused in several cases including murder and assault during the mass student protest. The couple had been hiding since the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, he  added.

Sultan Mansur placed on five-day remand in Jubo Dal leader murder caseFormer MP Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed has been placed on a five-day remand in connection with the murder of Jubo Dal leader Shamim, which occurred during BNP's grand rally on October 28, 2023.Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ragib Nur granted the remand after a hearing, following an appeal from the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Tanmoy Kumar Biswas of Paltan Model Police Station, on Monday.The police had initially requested a 10-day remand, which was supported by the state prosecution. However, the court granted a five-day remand for Sultan, as there was no legal representation on his behalf during the hearing.Earlier in the day, Sultan Mansur was taken into custody by police at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from Canada.