law-order
Neo JMB member arrested in Dhaka
A special team of Lalmonirhat district police with the help of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP arrested an alleged member of banned militant outfit Neo JMB from Khilgaon area in Dhaka on Tuesday night.
The arrestee was identified as Nazmus Sakib, 26, a resident of Hatibandha area of Lalmonirhat.
Read: Neo JMB member arrested in Dhaka
He has already been taken to Lalmonirhat following his arrest,Officer-In- Charge of Hatibandha Police Station Ershadul Alam told UNB.
Read: Drive at Savar 'militant den': Woman held, explosives seized
“ Sakib is an active member of Neo JMB. There are arrest warrants against him on charges of attacking police officers and for involvement in anti- state activities,” the OC added.
Eka gets bail, but cannot walk out of jail yet
A Dhaka court on Tuesday granted bail to film actress Semon Hasan Eka in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act but she will have secure bail in another case to get out of jail.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Atiqul Islam passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by her lawyer, Humayun Kabir, virtually.
But Eka will have to stay behind bars until she gets bail in another case filed against her for torturing her house help.
Also read: Film actress Eka held for torturing house help
On Aug 1, the court sent Eka to jail after rejecting bail in two cases filed against her for reportedly torturing her housemaid and having narcotics at her home.
On July 31, Eka’s house help filed one of ten cases against her for torturing and police filed another for keeping narcotic substances at her home. Both the cases were filed with Hatirjheel Police Station.
Police arrested Eka on the day from her Ulon apartment at Hatirjheel on charge of torturing her house help.
Also read: Film actress Eka sent to jail in two cases
Pori Moni put on 2-day fresh remand
A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed actress Pori Moni on a 2-day fresh remand in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Debabrata Das passed the order when police produced her before the court upon completion of her four-day remand.
Read:Pori Moni likely to be produced before CMM court today
Pori Moni’s counsel filed a petition before the court seeking bail for her.
Besides, the court also put Ashraful Islam Dipu, an associate of Raj Multimedia owner Nazrul Islam Raj, on a two-day remand in the same case.
HC division: 53 benches to operate virtually from Wednesday
A total of 53 benches have been formed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain Monday for operating judicial activities from Wednesday.
In these benches judicial activities will be done virtually without any physical appearance, said a notification issued by the Supreme Court.
All the activities of the High Court benches will be operated through virtual presence, following the ‘Use of Information Technology by the Courts Act, 2020’ and practice, said the notification.
Also read: High Court division to hold hearings virtually from August 11
The decision to open all the benches was taken following the government’s announcement to open all the government, private offices, banks and factories from August 11.
According to an earlier decision made in the full court meeting led by the chief justice on August 5, all judicial activities were being conducted by 12 benches which was supposed to be followed till August 12.
From May 25, 2020, the courts started conducting virtually amid the surge of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
At first 35/36 benches were conducting which was eventually increased to 52/53 benches.
But as the second wave of Covid hit the country again the number of High Court benches was lowered to four on April 5, this year which eventually increased to 16 later.
After the government imposed a stringent lockdown the number of benches was lowered to three till August 5.
Also read: Appellate Division proceedings to continue virtually during lockdown; regular judicial work to be curtailed
As all the justices and most of the officials of the Supreme Court received Covid jabs and the government also made the restriction, a loose decision of conducting 12 benches was taken in the full court meeting.
HC releases full text of verdict upholding death penalty of 10 militants
The High Court on Monday released the full text its earlier verdict upholding the death sentences to 10 militants over the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2000.
The 86-page text was released after the signing of the verdict by HC Justices Jahangir Hossain and Md Badruzzaman who pronounced the verdict virtually on February 17.
The attempt was made in Kotalipara in Gopalganj district.
Also read: Sheikh Hasina's convoy attack: Ex-BNP MP, 2 others get 10-yr imprisonment
In the verdict the HC said “The convicts were unwilling to abide by the law of the land. Besides, their plan to kill Sheikh Hasina by planting two bombs is terrible crime and we do not support to commute the punishment of some convicts.”
Deputy Attorney General Dr Mohammad Bashirullah, said “The HC has made some observation about some misguided thoughts of the militants. They believe that a woman can’t be the prime minister of an Islamic country”
The death- row convicts are: Asim Akter alias Tarek Hossain, Md Rashed Driver alias Abul Kalam, Md Yusuf alias Moshab Morol, Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar, Hafez Maulana Yahiya, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye and Maulana Abdur Rouf.
Also read: Attack on Sheikh Hasina: SC stays bail of 7 accused
The HC also acquitted Sarwar Hosain who was awarded 14 years’ imprisonment by the lower court.
Besides, the HC issued a directive to release Mahibullah alias Mafizur Rahman who got 14 years’ imprisonment as he has already served the jail term.
The HC upheld the life term and 14 years’ imprisonment of Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud and Anisul alias Anis, respectively.
On August 20, 2017, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 in Dhaka sentenced 10 people to death in the case.
Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud, one of the accused, got life term jail and was fined Tk 10,000 in the case.
The court also gave 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment to three other accused, including Md Anisul Islam alias Anis, and fined them Tk 10,000 each.
A total of 10 people, including Khandaker Kamal Uddin, were also acquitted from the murder attempt charge.
The same court also gave nine people to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined them Tk 20,000 each in another case filed under Explosive Substances Act over the unearthing of 76 kg explosives near the rally venue of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in 2000.
Those sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment are Md Yusuf alias Moshab Morol, Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud, Asim Akter alias Tarek Hossain, Md Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman, Mahmud Azhar, Md Rashed Driver alias Abul Kalam, Md Shah Newaz and Sheikh Md Enamul Haque.
Police recovered a 76-kilogram bomb from near a shop adjacent to Sheikh Lutfur Rahman Govt High School on July 20, 2000 where Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address a rally on July 22 same year.
Another 40-kg heavy bomb was also recovered by an Army bomb expert squad from near the Kotalipara helipad on July 23, 2000.
Nur Hossain, sub-inspector of Kotalipara Police Station, filed a case under the Explosive Substances Act in connection with the bomb recovery incidents.
Police pressed charges against 16 people, including executed Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, on April 8, 2001.
On June 29, 2009, police submitted a complementary charge sheet implicating nine more people.
The case was shifted to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal in 2010.
Meanwhile, Mufti Hannan was executed on April 12, 2017 over the grenade attack on then UK High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury at Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet in 2004.
High Court division to hold hearings virtually from August 11
All the judicial activities of benches under the High Court division of the Supreme Court will operate virtually from August 11.
The High Court Division issued a notification in this regard following the cabinet division’s direction on Sunday.
All the activities of the High Court benches will be operated through virtual presence, following the ‘Use of Information Technology by the Courts Act, 2020’ and practice, said the notification.
Read: Govt eases lockdown from Aug 11 with some guidelines to follow
The government has decided to ease the ongoing nationwide lockdown from August 11 with a few guidelines to follow in different sectors and people’s movements and gatherings.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard Sunday saying with some restrictions imposed during the lockdown will be lifted following the decision taken in an inter-ministerial meeting held on Aug. 3.
From August 11, all the government, private offices and banks will be opened following the health guidelines said the notification.
It said Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue necessary directives about the courts.
Constable posted at SP bungalow shoots himself dead
A police constable on Friday died by reportedly ‘shooting himself’ with his own gun while on duty at the residence of Dhaka district superintendent of police.
The deceased was identified as Mehedi Hasan, 26.
He was posted as a guard at the bungalow of Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Maruf Hossain Sarder in Ramna.
SP Maruf Hossain Sarder confirmed the incident to UNB.
”I immediately reached the spot of the incident after hearing the gunshot and found him lying on the ground. He sustained a single bullet wound under the chin from his own gun,” the SP said.
Police personnels rushed him to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead at around 5:15 pm, according to sources within the law enforcement agency.
Md. Bachchu Mia, in-charge inspector of DMCH police outpost, also backed up the information.
The body of the deceased was kept in the hospital morgue for autopsy, Bacchu added.
Detained Piyasha and Mou placed on remand again
A Dhaka court on Friday again granted remand for models Faria Mahabub Piyasha and Mariam Akter Mou for 7 days and 4 days respectively in a case filed under Narcotics Control Act.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court passed the order on Friday.
Piyasha was produced before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court after a 3-day remand. Later, the investigating officer of the case appealed for a seven-day remand in the case with the Gulshan police station.
Besides, the investigating officer of the case appealed for another 10-days remand including showing arrest in Bhatara police station and 7-days remand with showing arrest in Khilkhet police station.
Read: Model Piyasha and Mou placed on 3-day remand
On the other hand, after the 3-day remand of the alleged Maryam Akhter Mou, the police produced her in court and again appealed for a 10-day remand.
After hearing both sides, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury remanded the accused Piyasha for seven days in three cases and Mou for four days.
On Monday, a Dhaka court placed models Faria Mahabub Piyasha and Mariam Akter Mou on 3-day remand each for questioning over a large amount of liquor, Yaba and lead found at their residences.
Detective Branch (DB) of the police arrested model and presenter Faria Mahabub Piyasha from her house in Baridhara and another model Mariam Akter Mau from Mohammadpur on early hours Sunday.
Pori Moni placed on 4-day remand
A Dhaka court on Thursday night placed actress Shamsunnahar Smrity alias Pori Moni on a 4-day remand in a case under the Narcotics Control Act.Besides Raj Multimedia owner Nazrul Islam Raj and his two associates Ashraful Islam Dipu and Shobuj have also been placed on 4-day remand each on two different cases filed against them under the Narcotics Act.The court of Dhaka Metropolitan magistrate Mamunur Rashid passed the order after the investigation officer of Banani police station Sohel Rana produced them before the court and sought a 7-day remand for each of them.
Also read: Pori, Raj ringleaders of organised gang: RabFilm actress Pori Moni and her associate Nazrul Islam Raj were ringleaders of an organised gang , said Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Legal and Media Wing of Rab, on Thursday.
HC seeks explanation over punishing children under child marriage restraint act
The High Court on Thursday asked mobile court judge Assistant Commissioner (land) Rajia Sultana to submit an explanation why two children were punished under Child Marriage Restraint Act in Atpara upajila of Netrakona district.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order to submit the explanation by August 26 to the Attorney General’s office and a copy of it to the High Court through the district magistrate.
Meanwhile, the court expressed displeasure over mobile courts passing orders from court chambers stressing the examples of punishing a farmer for killing sparrows in the Barguna and Netrakona incident.
The court said, for the last few months news media are publishing report of magistrates passing mobile court orders long after the incident sitting in court rooms or police stations.
The court said this is not how mobile courts should conduct rather the court has to pass the order being present at the spot according to regulations.
Read: HC seeks govt decision on Covid jabs to pregnant women
During the hearing, the court suggested the attorney general to talk with the secretary of cabinet division for training up the magistrates.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin agreeing with the court said soon the cabinet division secretary will be contacted about the matter.
On August 1, the marriage of two 15-year olds, who were involved in a romantic relationship, was held by their families in the Duoj union of the Atpara upazila in Netrakona.
Informed of it, executive Magistrate AC land Rajia Sultana brought the two children to her office and sent them to Gazipur Child Development Centre for one month as punishment.
On August 4, Supreme Court lawyer Md Shihir Monir brought the matter to justice M Enayetur Rahim’s attention by sending a letter through e-mail and asked to release the two children.
Read: HC seeks list of money launderers
Soon after getting the letter the High Court ordered the release of the children.
Meanwhile the district magistrate released the two children after settling the case and asked for an explanation from the executive magistrate Rajia Sultana.
Following which the High Court held a hearing on Thursday where advocate Md Shishir Monir stood for the petitioner and advocate SM Rezaul Karim presented the Bangladesh Legal Aids Services Trust (BLAST).
Meanwhile Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas and Bipul Bagmar presented the state side.