share-market
Cabinet nods draft labour law increasing maternity leave to 120 days
The Cabinet on Monday in principle approved the draft of Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2023, increasing the maternity leave to 120 days from 112 days (16 weeks).
The approval came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the city.
Institutions must be held accountable to build a developed Bangladesh: LGRD Minister
“Now a female worker can avail 16 weeks as maternity leave –-eight weeks before the birth of a baby and eight weeks after the birth. But the leave has been made 120 days in the draft law,” said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.
A woman can enjoy the leave at her convenient time before or after the delivery of the baby, he said.
Besides, the condition for formation of a trade union was eased in the proposed law.
Winter is coming, vegetable prices will come down: Agri Minister
To form a trade union, the signatures of 15 percent workers are required in a company having over 3,000 workers and the signatures of 20 percent workers are needed in a company having less than 3,000 employees. As per the existing law, 20 percent signatures are required in both cases.
In the case of a group of companies, the signatures of 20 percent workers (instead of 30pc) are required to form a trade union.
As per the proposed law, the decision of the Labour Appeal Tribunal can be challenged in the Appellate Division not in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court as the tribunal is headed by a High Court judge.
The Cabinet also gave the final approval to the draft of Foreign Voluntary Organisations (Acquisition of Immovable Assets Regulation) Act, 2023 with a provision that such organisations can’t acquire immovable assets without permission of the government.
A foreign voluntary organisation can’t acquire immovable assets through purchase, receiving donation or any other means without the permission of the government, said Mahbub Hossain.
The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of Payra-Kuakata Development Authority Act, 2023 to make development in a planned way there.
Govt to procure 7 lakh mts of paddy, rice during Aman season: Food Minister
The Cabinet cleared the draft of an agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Algeria on mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, services and official passports.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet relieved the Agriculture Ministry from the responsibility of framing the policy over agricultural investment in foreign lands.
One sentenced death, three others life term for killing a motorcyclist in Barishal
A Barishal court on Monday sentenced a man to death and three others to life in jail in a case over killing a motorcyclist in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal around four years back.
Barishal District and Sessions Judge KM Rasheduzaaman Raja also fined the convicts Tk 10,000 each, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Obayed Ullah Saju.
The convicts--Russell Hawlader, Shaheen, Bellal and Idris, are from Sadar upazila of Barguna.
Read: 3 sentenced to death for killing driver in Chuadanga
Russell was handed the death penalty and all the convicts were on the dock of the court during the delivery of the judgment.
The court also acquitted one Syed Mridha Khalil from the charges as the allegations brought against him were not proved.
According to the case statement, the convicts went to Khairabad village under the upazila to install a tube well on March 5, 2019.
Read: 4 sentenced to death for murder in Sylhet 22 years ago
The workers killed victim Faisal Ahmed Prince, a biker by profession on hire at the village, hitting on his head with a heavy object and snatched away his mobile phone, motorbike and Taka in cash.
Later, the victim’s father Shahidul Islam filed a case with Bakerganj police station on the following day of the incident.
Police pressed chargesheet against the accused on July 31, 2020.
Read more: Four war criminals sentenced to death
5 jailed for life over 2013 murder in Chandpur
A Chandpur court on Sunday sentenced five people to life imprisonment for killing a man in 2013.
The convicts are - Mustafa, 25, Milon Hossain, 23, son of Monti Kha of Dakshin Rajapur village of Faridganj upazila, Bilkis Begum, 40, her son Ripon Hossain, 24, and Saddam Hossain ,27.
Chandpur Senior District and Sessions Judge Mohsinul Haque handed down the judgment this afternoon.
The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more imprisonment, Public Prosecutor (PP) Ranjit Roy Chowdhury confirmed.
Of them, Milon Hossain and Ripon Hossain are absconding and the rest were on the dock when the judgment was being delivered, he added.
According to the statement, accused Bilkis Begum used to indulge in immoral activities.
The family and relatives used to request him to refrain from these activities. But she did not pay any attention.
On Friday, March 8, 2013, around 6:30 pm, victim Mubarak Hossain, neighbour of Bilkis Begum asked her to refrain from immoral activities.
Being enraged, the accused ganged up and beat and stabbed Mubarak Hossain and his wife Nilufa Begum mercilessly, leaving them seriously injured.
Later, relatives rescued them and brought them first to Upazila Health Complex and later to Chandpur Government General Hospital. When Mubarak Hossain's condition deteriorated, he was first taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
He died on April 3 while undergoing treatment at the hospital.a case was filed at Faridganj police station against the accused following a complaint lodged by the victim’s son Md Zillur Rahman.
The then sub-inspector of Faridganj police station Md Akhtar Hossain was investigating the case.
Later, police arrested the accused Bilkis Begum on April 5 and sent her to the court.
The police official submitted chargesheet against the accused at a court on November 30 of the same year.
Special drive against illegal firearms before election: DMP Commissioner
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman on Sunday said that the police will conduct special drives to recover illegal arms before the upcoming national elections.
The DMP Commissioner came up with the remark while addressing at the training workshop for the members of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) at CIRDAP auditorium. DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit organized the workshop on 'Role of Media in Countering Extremism'. CRAB president Mirza Mehedi Tomal presided over the programme.
The DMP Commissioner said, all police units always remain active to recover illegal arms as recovery of illegal weapons is a routine work of the police. If illegal weapons are used before the national elections, the police will conduct special operations against it.
IGP asks police officers to act against abuse of legal firearms
About various extremist groups, the chief of the DMP said extremism or militancy cannot be eradicated fully but it can be controlled. We can now breathe a sigh of relief about militancy because the CTTC unit of the DMP has proved its ability to control extremism and militancy, he added.
The DMP commissioner also said that the Police has the ability to counter the various groups of extremists if they become active before the national elections.
Embattled Murad, wife hand over licensed firearms to police
In his speech as the special guest, the head of CTTC Md Asaduzzaman said that extremist activities are under control in the country. Bangladesh is now the safest country in South Asia, he said.
He also said that there has been no militant attack in the country in the last three years. Bangladesh has come a long way in controlling extremist activities, according to various international reports.
Smuggled firearms “from India” causing concern for Bangladesh law enforcers
Judiciary should not be politicised in any way: Chief Justice
Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan on Sunday urged judges and lawyers to refrain from any form of politicisation of the judiciary.
"The goal of justice can only be achieved by performing the collective and meritorious duties by judges and lawyers here and only then the dignity of the judiciary will remain intact," he said.
“It is my hope that this judicial arena of our Supreme Court will be illuminated with mutual tolerance, compassion and love.”
BNP-leaning United Lawyers’ Forum to boycott Chief Justice's reception
The newly appointed chief justice made the remarks at the reception accorded by the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court Bar Association on the first day of judicial proceedings of the new chief justice.
The chief justice said making comments on chief justice and the court without being well-informed does not indicate civility at all.
Quoting former chief justice Habibur Rahman, Obaidul Hasan said: “I also want to say that no judge is above criticism. I firmly believe that the right to criticize a judge's ruling is an integral part of freedom of speech which is guaranteed by the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law.”
Justice Obaidul Hasan takes oath as 24th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
The chief justice stressed on well-informed criticism to maintain the integrity of independent journalism.
But if someone abuses their freedom, whether it is the media, lawyers or anyone, the court's has the ability to take appropriate steps, he said
The chief justice urged all concerned to keep the judiciary transparent, corruption-free, independent and in line with the social justice theory.
Chief Justice rails against US visa policy on last working day
He also pledged to ensure a fair and accessible judicial system for everyone.
On September 12, President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed Justice Obaidul Hasan of the Appellate Division as the 24th Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
He was sworn in on October 26. Today was his first judicial working day as chief justice.
PK Halder gets 22 years’ jail for money laundering, amassing wealth
A Dhaka court on Sunday (October 8, 2023) sentenced disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL) Proshanto Kumar Halder, also known as PK Halder to 22 years’ of imprisonment in a case over amassing wealth and money laundering.
Thirteen other accused in the case were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each.
Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-10 Mohammad Nazrul Islam delivered the judgment.
The 13 convicts included Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Avantika Baral, Shankh Bepari, PK Halder's mother Lilavati Halder, Purnima Rani Halder, Uttam Kumar Mistri, Amitabh Adhikari, Pritish Kumar Halder, Rajib Som, Subrata Das, Anang Mohan Roy and Swapan Kumar Mistri.
Read: Court fixes October 8 to deliver verdict in graft case against PK Halder, 13 others
Of them, Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Avantika Baral and Shankh Bepari were present on the dock during the delivery of the judgment.
Earlier on October 4, the court set October 8 for delivering verdict upon ending arguments from the both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the defendants.
Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, assistant director of Dhaka Integrated District Office of the ACC, filed the case against PK Haldar for acquiring around Tk 275 crore illegally on January 8, 2020.
According to the case statement, PK Halder acquired wealth worth almost Tk 275 crore beyond known sources of income through illegal activities and kept them in his possession.
Read: India to hand over PK Halder to Bangladesh?
The ACC investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet to the court. In the charge sheet, the anti-graft watchdog accused Halder of laundering CAD 1.17 crore to Canada through illegal means.
A Dhaka court framed charges against the accused on September 8, 2021.
On May 13 this year, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates from the eastern state of West Bengal. He is now in an Indian jail.
Read more:Trial of graft case against PK Halder begins
Kashimpur inmate dies while undergoing treatment at Gazipur hospital
A prisoner who fell sick at Kashimpur Central Jail of Gazipur died at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital on Saturday morning.
The deceased was Raton Mia, 45, son of Sirajul Mridha of Tongi East police station area of Gazipur metropolis.
Read: Anti Terrorism Unit rescues abducted victim from South Banasree; 5 held
He was in jail in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act at Tongi police station, said Amirul Islam, jail superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail Part-2.
“He suddenly felt sick at Kashimpur Central Jail around 8:30 am on Saturday. He was given first aid in the prison hospital. Later, Raton was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital for better treatment where doctors declared him dead around 10 am,” said Amirul Islam.
Read: Eldest son of man whose headless body was found in Patenga held in Dhaka
The body will be handed over to the relatives of the deceased after completion of the legal procedures, he added.
Anti Terrorism Unit rescues abducted victim from South Banasree; 5 held
Anti Terrorism Unit (ATU) conducted a drive at a flat of South Banasree Kazibari T&T Tower area in the city and rescued an abducted person and arresting five alleged kidnappers.
Six mobile phones, cash, sticks, hammers and ropes used in kidnapping were recovered from the possessions of the arrestees during the operation.
Also read: 2 BCL leaders arrested for abduction, robbery at Dhaka College
The arrested alleged kidnappers were identified as Bilkis aka Tanya, 30, Md. Biplab, 30, Ibrahim Hossain Raju, 29, Lincoln Khalifa, 24, and Amir Sheikh, 30.
Md Sanwar Hossain, Superintendent of Police (Operations) of the ATP headquarters, said a male teacher of Bangladesh Open University was introduced to Bilkis on Facebook one week back. Since then, the arrested Bilkis kept contacting the victim, an Open University teacher, over Facebook on various pretexts, including seeking assistance regarding admissions in Open University.
Also read: Two more accused in Hridoy murder case arrested
At one stage, the teacher went to Rampura Banasree area under Khilgaon police station to meet one of his brothers last Thursday morning. Being informed, Bilkis called the teacher over phone and requested him to meet her in front of the Banasree's 10 floor market for discussing admission in the Open University.
When the victim teacher went there, the arrested Bilkis, along with her accomplices forcibly kidnapped him and took him to the 6th floor flat of a house in Dakshin Banasree Kazibari T&T Tower area.
Later, the abductors threatened to kill the victim, tied his hands and feet and tortured him with sticks and hammers and took away Cash Tk3,000/- and from bkash account of Tk 20,000. Besides, they also recorded an offensive video of the victim on mobile phone and threatened to spread it on the internet.
Also read: RAB arrests sacked driver among three for kidnapping joint tax commissioner
To relief from torture, the arrested kidnappers asked the victim to bring a ransom of Tk 2,00,000/- from his family on the same day. Finding no other alternatives, the victim communicated with the husband of his sister over phone and requested him to send Tk 2 lakh through Bkash number given by the accused.
As the victim's phone was switched off and he did not return home on Wednesday, the victim's sister-in-law became suspicious and filed a general diary at Kalabagan police station in the capital (GD No. 318 of Kalabagan police station, dated October 5).
The next following day on Thursday, the abducted teacher again contacted his brother-in-law over phone and asked him to send the money. Finally, the victim's brother-in-law sent Tk45,000/- two times through Bkash.
In the meantime, family members of the victim informed the ATU headquarters about the matter. Following the complaint, the ATU conducted the drive at Banasree with the help of local Khilgaon thana police on Friday night at around 10:45 pm and rescued the victim, arresting the five abductors.
Eldest son of man whose headless body was found in Patenga held in Dhaka
Members of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested the eldest son of a man whose decapitated body was recently found in Chattogram’s Patenga Beach, from Dhaka’s Hazaribagh early Saturday.
The arrestee was named as Shafiqur Rahman Jahangir, eldest son of Md Hasan, whose decapitated body was recovered on September 22.
With this, four people including the victim’s wife Chhenowara Begum, another son Mostafizur Rahman and Shafiqur’s wife Anarkoli have so far been arrested in the incident.
Md Illias Khan, investigation officer of the case and inspector of Chattogram metro PBI, confirmed the arrest of eldest son Shafiqur saying that the arrestee was brought back to Chattogram from Dhaka and taken to Patenga to recover the missing head.
“We searched for the head but are yet to recover it till Saturday evening,” he said, adding that they earlier combed the area for the head taking Anarkoli on September 1 and 2.
Read: Body parts of a man found inside a luggage in Chattogram:Police
He said the gruesome killing was committed in Shafiqur's house, and later the body was chopped. The body, except the head and some other parts, was put inside a suitcase of Anarkoli and dumped in Patenga Sea Beach.
The head was wrapped in polythene and was left on the beach,with other parts in a canal on Akmal Ali Road of the city, the PBI officer said.
parts left in the canal were recovered on September 23 and only the head is still missing.On September 22, police recovered the decapitated body of Hasan, son of Sahab Miah of Boraitali area under Kathariya union of Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram district, from inside the suitcase in the Patenga area.
Initially, the identity of the deceased could not be known but later identified through fingerprint.
Patenga police station’s Sub-inspector Abdul Kadir filed a case in this connection. The PBI arrested the victim’s wife, son Mostafizur and sister-in-law Anarkoli.
Read: Police constable dies after falling off building in Chattogram
Hasan had no connection with his family over the past 30 years but he returned to the family around one year back when a dispute initiated between him, his wife and two sons over sharing his huge property.
The mother along with two sons planned to kill Hasan to grab all his property, police said.
As per the plan, Chhenowar Begum and her two sons strangled Hasan to death and chopped the body into nine pieces.
Read more: Decapitated body in luggage: Police unveil mystery in Ctg
Police arrest extortionist with revolver, chapatti from Mirpur
Police arrested an alleged extortionist of Mirpur area in the capital on charge of stabbing a shop owner for failing to collect and hand over the amount of extortion money required.
A Sub-Inspector of police also received stab injuries while conducting raids to arrest the perpetrator, said officer-in-charge (OC) of Mirpur Model Police Station Mohammad Mohsin.
The arrestee was identified as Fahim Ahmed, who is well known in the area as Chapati Fahim.
Fahim used to collect extortion money from local traders. If someone refused to pay the demanded money or complained against him, he resorted to attacking them with a chapati. Everyone knows him as Chapati Fahim as he goes around with chapati in his hand while extorting money, the OC said.
Read: Clashes at CU: 5 ‘outsiders’ arrested with arms
Fahim had been demanding money from a shop owner named Tanvir, 30, of Shewrapara area for last several days. As Tanvir refused to pay the demanded money, Fahim went to the shop again to collect tolls on Friday morning. Failing to realise the tolls, he hacked the shop owner with his chapati and reportedly took away Tk 2500 from the shop.
Being informed, a team of Mirour Model thana police led by SI Sohel Rana conducted a raid at Shewrapara area on Friday evening and arrested him at around 5:45 pm. Later, based on the information given by him, a revolver and the chapati were recovered from his house at night.
The OC said that Fahim was trying to flee the scene after stabbing SI Sohel Rana during the drive. Sohel Rana was given first aid.
Read: 4 held with firearms, bullets in Cumilla
He also said that the arrested Fahim is a identified extortionist of Mirpur. There are several cases against him at different police stations in the city.
He was arrested two months earlier on charges of extortion. After being released from jail 10 days ago, he started extortion again.
A case was filed with Mirpur Police station in connection with the incident.
Replying to a question, the OC said that Fahim was produced before a Dhaka CMM court seeking police remand Saturday.
After hearing, the court granted one day remand for interrogation, the OC added.
Read more: 6 arrested JCD leaders were ‘planning to display illegal firearms and create panic among the public’: Police