Law-&-Order
HC recommends non-bailable clause for hurting religious sentiments in CSA
The High Court has recommended the government enact a law making it a non-bailable offense to insult or blaspheme the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and all other religious scriptures and avatars.
The bench of Justice Md. Rezaul Hasan and Justice Fahmida Quader gave the opinion on Monday while disposing of a rule issued on the bail petition of a Kushtia man who made derogatory comments about the Prophet (PBUH) on Facebook.
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik, who confirmed the matter, said the order is very important. The High Court has recommended the enactment of a law with non-bailable arrest the maximum punishment of death or life imprisonment.
The court recommended that the Cyber Security Act 2023, that subsumed the Digital Security Act 2018, should prescribe non-bailability alongside the maximum punishment of death or life imprisonment for insulting the Holy Quran, the Prophet (PBUH), and all other religious scriptures. The court said that the previous law had it as a non-bailable clause. But the offense rate is increasing as the current law makes it a bailable offense to insult religious sentiments.
DAG Amin Uddin Manik said that Selim Khan of Bheramara upazila in Kushtia made vulgar comments on a Facebook link about the Prophet (PBUH). In the bail hearing of the case, the High Court directed the investigating officer and the higher authorities to file a supplementary charge sheet against one Nafisa Chowdhury, who posted a vulgar comment on Facebook, as there was sufficient evidence in the testimony and evidence. The court also disposed of the rule as the section was bailable.
The High Court said that the offense was a syndicated and premeditated crime. No one, including scientists Newton and Einstein, has ever questioned the Holy Quran and Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). At this time, the judge recited some verses from Surah Ash-Shura of the Holy Quran.
During the hearing, the state was represented by Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik, Assistant Attorney General Sahab Uddin Ahmed Tipu, and Md. Mojibur Rahman Mojib. Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun appeared for the accused.
According to the case information, Nafisa Chowdhury wrote a vulgar comment on a Facebook page called 'Relationship' on November 2 last year. Then the accused Md Selim Khan intentionally hurt religious values and sentiments, insulted the Islamic faith with the intention of creating a riot, and intentionally posted the said post with the intention of severely hurting their feelings.
Hanif Shah of Kushtia filed a case at Bheramara Police Station on November 4 as the plaintiff. The investigating officer, Inspector Sheikh Lutfor Rahman, submitted the charge sheet on December 31.
On December 13, Kushtia Additional Sessions Judge Ruhul Amin rejected the accused's bail petition, following which the accused filed a bail petition in the High Court. The High Court on January 8 issued a rule asking why the accused should not be granted bail. The court disposed of the rule and gave the directive.
Schools to remain open during Ramadan as Appellate Division stays HC order
The Appellate Division on Tuesday (March 12, 2024) stayed the High Court order on keeping the primary and secondary schools closed during the month of Ramadan.
A 5-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order hearing an appeal filed against the High Court order.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin stood for the state while Advocate AKM Faiz stood for the writ petitioner.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told reporters that following the Appellate Division order there will be no bar on running schools during Ramadan.
Primary, secondary schools to remain closed during Ramadan: HC
On March 10, the HC stayed for two months the government’s decision to keep the primary and secondary schools open in the first 10 and 15 days of Ramadan respectively.
The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order following a petition seeking closure of school activities during Ramadan.
Advocate Mahmuda Khanam stood for the writ petitioner while deputy attorney general Sheikh Md Saifuzzaman represented the state.
On February 8, the government amended the holiday list for educational institutions keeping the regular activities of secondary schools open for 15 days during the month of Ramadan. The Education Ministry issued a notice in this regard.
In another notice, the Primary and Mass Education Ministry issued a notice to keep the activities of primary schools during the month of Ramadan for ten days.
Female student assaulted at JnU dormitory, journalist threatened
Advocate Md Ilias Ali Mandal, a guardian, filed a writ petition on February 25, challenging the two orders of the government.
Secretaries to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry, Education Ministry, deputy secretary of Primary and Mass Education Ministry and deputy secretary of Education Ministry, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Department, Director of Child Welfare Trust were made respondents.
Student shot in class: Sirajganj medical college lecturer remanded
A Sirajganj court on Monday granted a 5-day remand for Raihan Sharif, a lecturer of the Community Medicine department at Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College and Hospital in Sirajganj in a case filed over shooting a student inside a classroom.
Judge Billal Hossain of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-1 in Sirajganj passed the order on Monday afternoon, said Md Zulhaj Uddin, OC of District Police Detective Police (DB).
Shooting student in classroom: Class boycott programme at Sirajganj medical college withdrawn
He said that Abdullah Al Amin, the father of the injured Tamal, filed a case of attempted murder at the Sadar police station. Another case was filed under the Arms Act in the name of Dr Raihan Sharif as the SI Ibrahim Hossain of the Detective Police on Wednesday. The plaintiff and investigating officer SI Ibrahim Hossain applied to the court for a 7-day remand of teacher Raihan Sharif for further interrogation.
On March 6, Raihan Sharif was suspended for shooting Arafat Amin Tomal, 23, a third-year student, inside a classroom.
The incident, which has sparked widespread condemnation, led to the formation of a three-member investigation committee by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Shooting student in classroom: Sirajganj medical college lecturer suspended
The committee visited the medical college to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
In response to the grave incident, students of Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College and Hospital organised a protest on the Sirajganj-Bogura-4 lane highway, demanding the immediate dismissal and severe punishment of Raihan.
BGB-BSF border conference wraps up with pledge to bring down border killings to zero
The 54th director general (DG) level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) ended at BGB headquarters here on Saturday where both sides agreed to bring down the killing of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals in the border areas to zero by taking effective steps, including enhancing joint patrolling.
The border conference, which started on March 5, ended with the signing of the Joint Record of Discussion (JRD) document. Later, a joint press statement was read out in the press conference,
According to the joint press statement, DG BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui urged DG BSF Shri Nitin Agrawal to adopt necessary measures to reduce the border killing to zero considering the sound bilateral relation existing between Bangladesh and India.
Beside this cardinal concern, DG BGB also expressed his optimism to curb various types of trans-border crimes like smuggling, human trafficking, inadvertent border crossing and any kind of terrorist activities, as well as time bound concurrence in regards to development works including river bank protection works, increase of border haats and completion of stalled ICP/LCP related projects etc.
DG BSF expressed his sincere condolences for the sorrowful demise of Sepoy Md Roisuddin in the unfortunate incident on 22nd January, 2024.
Expressing satisfaction over the coordinated efforts of BSF and BGB in maintaining peace and tranquility along the border, both stressed the need for effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP).
The two sides agreed to bring down the killing/injuring unarmed Bangladeshi nationals to zero by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness program, undertaking appropriate socio-economic development programs, educating border population about the sanctity of the international border (IB) and preventing criminals/inhabitants from crossing the IB and sharing of real time information.
Both sides agreed to take effective steps to continue to sensitize the border populace to refrain from Violation of IB/Illegal crossing/Intrusion, smuggling, human trafficking, uprooting Border Pillars and other trans-border crimes. As a whole, both sides assured to maintain the desired sanctity of the border.
Both the delegation leaders reiterate their existing ‘zero tolerance’ stance on trans-border insurgent groups and agreed to take all necessary steps to prevent trans-border movements by real time information.
Regarding the death of BGB member Sepoy Md Roisuddin, who died in BSF firing in Jashore frontier on 22 January this year, the DG BSF expressed his sincere condolences for his death.
When asked about the death of Sepoy Roisuddin, the DG BSF Nitin Agrawal did not give any direct answer.
When his attention was drawn about Sepoy Roisuddin's death, DG BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said that this was not a targeted killing first of all. .This happened amid darkness, fog and confusion from both sides and in future, there will be all efforts from both sides to avoid any kind of killing on uniform BGB and BSF personnel or any civilian both Bangladesh and India.
DG BSF Shri Nitin Agrawal BSF led the Indian delegation consisting of nine members in the DG Level Border Conference, while DG BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqu led a 16-member Bangladesh delegation.
END/UNB/MJ/ssk
5 lawyers arrested over clash during SCBA polls vote counting, DB says
The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested five lawyers in a case filed at Shahbagh Police Station over the clash during votes counting of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election early Friday.
The arrestees are SC lawyers Kazi Bashir Ahmed, Tushar, Tariqul, Suman and Barrister Osman Chowdhury. They were arrested from different parts of the capital on Friday night.
DMP Additional Commissioner and DB Chief Mohammad Harun Or Rashid revealed the information at the DB office at Minto Road in the capital on Saturday.
"No one is above the law, no matter how powerful they are. After the case was filed at Shahbagh Police Station, DB police arrested the five lawyers from different places in the capital, including Banani, after conducting a shadow investigation,” said Harun.
HC orders Grameen Kalyan to pay Tk 119 crore income tax
They are being interrogated in connection with violence at the country's highest court, said the DB chief.
“It doesn't matter which group of people were involved in the clash. All those who were involved in the crime, against whom the cases were filed, will be brought under the law,” added Harun.
Investigation is underway to identify those involved in the incident, he also said.
Earlier on Friday night, Assistant Attorney General SR Siddique Saif filed the case at Shahbagh Police station accusing mentioning names of 20 people and 20-30 others unnamed over the violence.
Destiny's MD gets bail in money laundering case
Independent candidate for the SCBA secretary post Adv Nahid Sultana Juthi, wife of Jubo League leader Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, and BNP-backed blue panel secretary candidate Barrister Ruhul Kuddus were among accused in the case.
At least seven people were injured in the clash.
HC orders Grameen Kalyan to pay Tk 119 crore income tax
The High Court on Thursday upheld the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) claim of Tk 119 crore income tax from Grameen Kalyan, a nonprofit organisation founded by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.
The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir passed the order after hearing seven income tax reference applications filed by Grameen Kalyan challenging the legality of the claims made by the NBR.
Lawyer Sardar Jinnat Ali stood for Grameen Kalyan in the court while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Assistant Attorney General Tahmina Poli represented the state.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin said Grameen Kalyan had already paid Tk436 crore of the Tk555 crore claimed by the NBR. Now it has to pay the remaining Tk119 crore, he added.
Sardar Jinnat Ali, the lawyer of Grameen Kalyan said, "A decision will be taken on whether to appeal against the judgment of the High Court or not, subject to discussion with the management authorities of Grameen Kalyan."
Labaid Hospital fined Tk 2 lakh for operating unauthorised restaurant on its rooftop
A mobile court on Thursday fined Labaid Hospital Tk 2 lakh for housing a an unauthorised restaurant on its rooftop.
A team of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) led by Executive Magistrate Md Jahangir Alam imposed the fine conducting a drive from 3pm to 5pm.
During the drive, "We found a restaurant on the roof of Labaid Hospital in Dhaka's Green Road area and there was leakage in a gas cylinder kept in the restaurant's kitchen," he said.
“We also got the fault in the fire extinguishing system. Hence, LabAid Hospital authorities have been fined Tk 2 lakh."
The fine was imposed under Section 18 of the Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Act, 2003.
Earlier, the mobile court conducted a drive in the Central Hospital on Green Road.
Among others, Deputy Assistant Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense Mohammad Fakhruddin were present during the operation.
Destiny's MD gets bail in money laundering case
The High Court on Wednesday granted one year bail to Rafiqul Amin, managing director of Destiny Multipurpose Co-Operative Society Ltd, who was jailed for 12 years in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over money laundering.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadat Hossain passed the order on Wednesday afternoon.
He was given bail on condition of submitting his passport to the court, said Rafiqul’s lawyer Mohaddes-ul-Islam Tutul.
Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub and and Md Mohaddes-ul-Islam Tutul appeared for the petitioner while senior lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC.
Tutul said that the High Court granted bail to his client as his sentence was completed.
On May 12, 2022, a Dhaka court sentenced all 46 accused, including Rafiqul Amin, his wife Farah Diba, and Destiny-2000 president Lt Gen Harun (retd), to different terms of imprisonment in the money laundering case and fined Tk 2,300 crore.
Rafiqul Amin was given 12 years imprisonment with Tk 200 crore fine and his wife Farah Diba was awarded eight-years imprisonment in this case.
On June 16, Rafiqul Amin moved the High Court against the sentence.
On 31 July 2012, two separate cases were filed with the Kalabagan police station against Rafiqul and other officials of Destiny on the allegation of embezzling money from the investors in the name of Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society and Destiny Tree Plantation Limited and laundering it.
According to the case statement, Destiny group collected Tk 1,901 crore from the investors and embezzled Tk 1,861.45 crore of it. As a result, Its eight lakh investors faced loss.
DMP conducts drives targeting fire safety violations in Dhaka
In response to the recent tragic fire on the Bailey Road in the capital, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been conducting drives targeting establishments with potential fire safety hazards.
The drive that started on March 3 resulted in the detention of 872 owners and employees from 1,347 hotels, restaurants, gas cylinder shops, and chemical warehouses till March 5.
DB increases surveillance on upscale restaurants after Bailey Road fire
The primary objective of the DMP drive is to assess and address fire safety shortcomings in various non-compliant buildings across the capital. Police inspected 1,132 hotels and restaurants, 207 gas cylinder shops, and eight chemical warehouses during the operation.
Fire safety: How safe are the restaurants in Dhaka’s upscale areas?
During the drive, 20 regular cases were filed at local police stations, resulting in the issuance of 887 additional prosecutions against individuals and businesses violating fire safety regulations, said KN Roy Nioty, ADC (Media and Public Relations) of the DMP.
This recent surge in enforcement comes after a devastating fire ripped through a seven-storey commercial building on Bailey Road in Dhaka on February 29, killing 46 individuals, including 26 women and three children, and critically injuring 22 others.
Petition filed seeking closure of restaurants in residential buildings
75 teen gang members arrested in Dhaka
Detectives in separate drives have arrested 75 members of ‘teen gangs’ from different areas of the capital in two days.
They were arrested from Tejgaon, Gulshan, Uttara and Motijheel areas on Tuesday and Wednesday.
DB Chief and Additional Commissioner of Police Harun-or-Rashid revealed this information while briefing reporters today at DB’s Minto Road office.
Most of the arrestees were wanted in different cases, he added.
Recently, police found the involvement of so-called ‘elders brothers’ in patronising them.
The arrestees have long been involved in eve-teasing, stalking and mugging in Uttara, Rampura, Badda, Bhatara, Turag and 300-feet areas, he added.
They are also involved in drug peddling, said the DB Chief.
These gangs have turned into a menace in society. Due to them, the law and order of the society is being destroyed, he added.
.Thirty four teenagers were killed in attack by these gangs in the last two years, he added.
Harun said, "We once thought that children from floating and low-income families were getting involved in teen gangs.But now it is seen that the children from upper middle class and wealthy families are also getting involved in these gangs.”