Law-&-Order
HC denies bail to Fakhrul, issues rule asking why he should not be granted bail
The High Court on Thursday rejected the bail petition of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why he should not be granted bail in a case filed over the attack on Chief Justice's residence.
The HC bench of Justice Md Salim and Justice Shahed Nuruddin issued the rule after hearing a petition that sought Fakhrul’s bail in the case.
HC fixes Dec 7 to hear Fakhrul’s bail plea in CJ’s residence vandalising case
The government was asked to respond to the rule within a week. Senior lawyer Adv Zainul Abedin stood for the bail petition.
Advocates Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Fazlur Rahman Khan, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Badruddoza Badal, Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kazal, Barrister Kaiser, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal and Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon were also present in the court on behalf of Mirza Fakhrul.
Fakhrul files bail petition at High Court
Deputy Attorney General BM Rafel represented the state.
Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon filed the petition on behalf of Fakhrul with the concerned bench of the High Court on Sunday.
Govt has no influence in Fakhrul's bail denial: Home Minister
Earlier on November 22, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court rejected the bail petition of the BNP secretary general in the same case.
On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police Station on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice's residence during a BNP rally on October 28.
Apart from Mirza Fakhrul, 59 leaders and activists, including BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, were accused in the case.
The BNP secretary general was arrested in the case on October 29. Later, a bail petition was filed with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. The court sent him to jail rejecting his bail petition.
BNM candidate for Brahmanbaria-3 fined for violating code of conduct
Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) candidate Jamal Rana for Brahmanbaria-3 constituency (Sadar and Bijoynagar upazilas) was fined Tk 10, 000 for breaching the electoral code of conduct in the district on Wednesday afternoon.
It is the first that a candidate was fined for violating the electoral code of conduct after the Election Commission announced the polls schedule for the 12th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 7.
Locals said a helicopter carrying the BNM candidate and others came to Koudda village under the Sadar upazila from Dhaka in the afternoon.
Read: EC’s show-causes for violating electoral code are a joke on the people: Rizvi
Later, he attended several rallies organised by his supporters at his native village Koudda.
As per the law, candidates except the head of a political party can’t use helicopter and drop any leaflets, banners and other publicity objects from the helicopter during the election campaign.
Denying the allegation of using a helicopter, the candidate claimed that his expatriate younger brother Alamgir, who came from Italy on Tuesday, hired the helicopter to come to the village from Dhaka. He only accompanied his brother.
Read: AL Ctg-15 candidate Nadwi served show-cause notice for violating electoral code of conduct
Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Mohammad Selim Sheikh said the candidate was fined Tk 10, 000 for violating the electoral code of conduct.
The candidate gave an undertaking that he would not violate the code of conduct again.
Read more: EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
48-hr blockade: 4 leaders of BNP’s associate bodies arrested in Sylhet
Police arrested four leaders of two associate bodies of the BNP while observing the 48-hour countrywide blockade called by the party and like-minded parties to press home their one-point demand in Sylhet city on Wednesday.
The arrestees are Sylhet city unit’s Swechasebak Dal Dal Convenor Mahbubul Hoque Chowdhury, Member Secretary Afsar Khan, district unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Joint Convenor Russell Ahmed, and Assistant Organising Secretary Akhtar Hossain Limon.
Blockade: 3 Chhatra Dal leaders, activists arrested in Old Dhaka
Witnesses said supporters of the BNP’s student wing, JCD, brought out a procession in favour of the blockade in front of Hajji Nawab Ali Jame Masjid in the Sobhanighat area of the city on Wednesday afternoon.
Police dispersed the procession when it was marching towards the Shahjalal outskirts. Russell and Limon were arrested during the procession there.
10th blockade: 156 BGB platoons, 422 RAB patrol teams deployed
Moreover, police arrested Mahbubul and Afsar when the supporters of the BNP’s voluntary wing, Swechasebak Dal, were preparing for a procession in the Bagbari area of the city around 2:30 pm.
Azbahar Ali Sheikh, deputy commissioner (north) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), confirmed the arrests, saying legal action will be taken against the arrestees.
10th blockade called by BNP, like-minded opposition parties underway with arson attacks
Blockade: 3 Chhatra Dal leaders, activists arrested in Old Dhaka
Police arrested three leaders and activists of Jagannath University (JnU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, when they burnt tyres on Babu Bazar Bridge in Old Dhaka on Wednesday in support of the 48-hr blockade enforced by BNP and like-minded opposition parties. The arrestees are JnU unit Joint Secretaries of JCD Suman Sardar and Zafar Ahmed and activist Masfiq. Witnesses said some JCD men led by the university unit president Asaduzzaman Aslam and General Secretary Sujan Molla brought out a procession in support of the countrywide blockade in the early hours of Wednesday. At one stage, when they set fire to tyres on the bridge to obstruct vehicular movement while police chased them and arrested three of them, they said.
Along with local JCD men, central committee’s leaders and activists were also present at the programme.
Sutrapur police station's Officer-in-Charge Mainul Islam confirmed the arrest saying that that the JCD men were produced before a Dhaka court with a remand plea.
10th blockade: 156 BGB platoons, 422 RAB patrol teams deployed
A total of 156 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order as the latest 48-hour countrywide blockade of road, rail and waterways called by the BNP and like-minded opposition parties is underway since this morning.
48-hour blockade: 154 BGB platoons, 424 RAB patrol teams deployed
Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, shared the information this morning.
Along with the BGB platoons, 422 patrol teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed across the country.
Among them, 130 patrol teams were deployed in Dhaka considering the increasing arson attacks.
Latest blockade continues in a lax manner
RAB is ensuring the security of long-distance public transport and goods-carrying transport in different parts of the country, said Imran Khan, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at the media wing of the RAB headquarters.
Athlete brother arrested after police fails to find Chhatra Dal leader in Ctg
Police in Chattogram, unable to find Chhatra Dal leader Kazi Selim Uddin, instead arrested his younger brother, Kazi Najim Uddin, on Monday.Najim was taken into custody on false drug-related charges, a claim vehemently denied by his family. According to sources, Najim is not involved in any form of politics and is identified as an athlete within the community.As per police and party insiders, an operation was conducted at Selim's house in the Bari Bakun Union of Sitakunda on Sunday night. However, the student leader was not present at the time. Failing to locate him, the police apprehended his younger brother, Najim, instead.Najim was produced in court on Monday, where he was remanded into custody in connection with the alleged drug case. Najim is a registered athlete with the district sports organization.Contrary to the police's assertions, locals, as well as sports officials, have confirmed Najim's lack of involvement in any criminal activities. Fazle Elahi, the Joint Secretary of Sitakunda Sports Association and a councilor, stated that Najim is not affiliated with politics and is actively engaged in sports. Additionally, Najim is listed as a member of both the Chattogram Sports Association and the local sports organization.Confirming the arrest, SI Nasir Uddin of Sitakunda Police Station stated that Kazi Najim Uddin was recently implicated in a drug-related case, leading to his arrest through a legal process.The arrest has raised concerns among the community, with many questioning the motives behind targeting a sports personality in connection with a case involving a student politician.
6 more arrested over political violence, sabotage: RAB
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Monday arrested six more people, including BNP leaders and activists, in connection with attacks, sabotage, and violence that took place in different parts of the country.
They were arrested from different parts of the country, said RAB Headquarters Legal and Media Wing Assistant Director ASP Al Amin.
So far, RAB has arrested a total of 826 people in connection with violence and sabotage in different parts of the country, including the attack and sabotage on October 28, he added.
Also read: Fire Service records 8 arson attacks in 24 hours
Meanwhile, 424 RAB patrol teams, including 132 in the capital, have been deployed across the country, in order to prevent violence and vandalism and to maintain the law and order situation.
The elite force is providing security for passenger and goods transport, long-distance public transport, and cargo transport by patrolling in different parts of the country.
In addition, RAB's intelligence surveillance is continuing in important places, including bus stands and railway stations, to prevent any kind of vandalism and violence, added the RAB official.
Also read: 3 parked buses set ablaze in Natore, one partially salvaged by Fire Service
HC stays trial against journo Kajol in a case of illegally entering Bangladesh
The High Court on Monday stayed for six months the trial proceedings of a case filed by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) against journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol for illegally entering Bangladesh.The HC bench of Justice SM Kuddus Zaman and Justice Md Aminul Islam passed the order after hearing a petition seeking cancellation of the case.Advocate Nazmus Shakib stood for journalist Kajol in the court while Deputy Attorney General Sujit Chatterjee Bappi stood for the state.
Read: Nixon Chowdhury appears in court over election code violation chargesLater, Sujit Chatterjee said that the High Court stayed the proceedings of the case for six months.Journalist Kajol went missing on March 11, 2020 from the capital's Chawkbazar area. Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested him from Sadipur field along the Benapole border in Jashore on May 2, 53 days after he went missing from Dhaka.Later, on May 3, 2020, BGB filed a case against journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol under the Illegal Entry Act.
Petition to stay election schedule: HC fixes Dec 10 for decision
The hearing on the details of the writ petition filed to stay the upcoming 12th National election ended in the High Court on Monday.
The High Court bench led by Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah, fixed December 10 (Sunday) for passing an order in this regard on Monday.
Advocate Yunus Ali Akanda spoke in favour of the petition in the court, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state. Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy provided assistance on behalf of the state. Barrister Khan Muhammad Shamim Aziz appeared on behalf of the Election Commission.
At a stage during the hearing, Advocate Yunus Ali Akanda, the petitioner's lawyer, stated, "I was a parliamentary candidate in 2018. Voting took place at night. The court asked, whether any case was filed regarding the night voting and was there any evidence or witnesses. At that time, Yunus said, “I am a witness to the night voting along with 18 crore people."
Earlier, theanother election's validity was challenged while the current parliament was in session. Yunus filed the writ petition in the relevant branch of the High Court last Wednesday. The petition included the Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commission Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Law, and seven others as defendants. The lawyer had sent a legal notice last Tuesday.
The notice highlighted the ongoing political crisis in the country, stating that strikes and blockades are ongoing, making it impossible to conduct fair elections. In addition, candidates have the obligation to submit their tax returns with their nomination papers.
However, the deadline for submitting tax returns is November 30, while, according to the Election Commission, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is also November 30. Therefore, it remains uncertain how candidates will be able to submit their tax returns along with their nomination papers, it said
Due to the impact of strikes and blockades, independent candidates are not prepared to participate in the election. In light of this situation, the Election Commission requested more time to announce details behind the postponed election date, it added.
End/UNB/Corr/MB
Govt officials can’t contest polls within 3 years of retirement: HC
The High Court on Monday said the government officials cannot contest the general election within three years of their retirement.A bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque came up with the order after rejecting a rule.On January 19, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the provision of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) prohibiting the military and civil government officials in contesting the general election within three years of their retirement should not be declared illegal.The court issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by former military officer Brigadier General Md Shamim Kamal challenging the provision that did not allow the government officers to participate in the parliamentary election within three years of their retirement.
Read: 12th parliamentary elections: EC approves transfer of 47 UNOsThe Chief Election Commissioner, secretaries to the Law Ministry, the Home Ministry, the Public Administration Ministry, the Local Government Ministry and the deputy commissioner of Lalmonirhat have been made respondents to the rule, which is returnable in four weeks.According to the section 12 (1) (f) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO)-1972 the government employees, who have resigned or retired from any job of the republic or statutory government authority or the Department of Defence Service, won’t be able to participate in the national parliamentary elections until three years of resignation or retirement.Challenging the law, former military officer Shamim Kamal filed a petition.