HC
HC orders judicial probe into attacks on Hindus in 6 districts
The High Court on Thursday ordered a judicial inquiry into the vandalism, arson attacks on Hindu community people during their Durga Puja in six districts of the country.
The six districts are Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and Rangpur.
The court directed the judicial magistrates of the six districts to submit a report within 60 days.
The HC bench of Md Mojibur Rahman Miah and Md Kamrul Hossain Molla passed the order with a rule during the hearing on a writ filed in this regard.
also read: Communal attacks: Writ petition seeks judicial inquiry
On October 21, Supreme Court lawyers Anup Kumar Shaha and Mintu Chandra Das filed the writ petition.
The court issued the rule seeking explanation why the inactivity and failure of the authorities concerned in protecting puja pandals, temples, houses, lives and property of the Hindu community during those attacks will not be considered illegal and why a directive should not be given to ensure the safety of the Hindu community members.
Twenty-one people, including secretaries to the Home, Law, Religious Affairs Ministries , Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Chairman, Deputy Commissioners and Police Superintendents of the six districts were made respondents to the rule.
Barrister Jyotiromoy Barua appeared for the petitioner’s side during the hearing while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed stood for the state.
Also read: Communal violence: Citizens demand exemplary punishment for perpetrators
During the hearing, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin said in the writ petition the state and local administrations have been directly blamed for failure during the attacks on Hindu community.
“We demand the removal of those words from the petition as the state is not sitting idle. Some miscreants involved in the attacks in Cumilla and Rangpur have been arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile, barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said as per the Constitution, citizens have the right to life, property, free movement and freedom of practicing religious rituals but the victims did not get any support from the local administrations during these communal attacks.
The failure of the local administrations has been proved with the vandalism and arson attacks on the houses and temples of Hindus, he said.
HC summons ACC assistant director over allegation of bribery
The High Court has summoned Alamgir Hossain, ACC assistant director, to explain allegations of bribery during investigation against him.
He has been asked to appear in person to court on November 7 to explain the matter. The court also issued a rule asking why he would not be charged with bribery.
On Monday the HC bench of Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice SM Mojibur Rahman passed the order.
READ: HC rules on govt decision to not provide new household gas connections
Advocate Kamal Hossain was in favor of the application. Advocate Md. Asif Hasan was in favor of the ACC. Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and Assistant Attorney General Anna Khanam Kali represented the state.
It was learned that Alamgir Hossain was investigating an ACC case against the district registrar of Pirojpur, Abdul Quddus Hawladar and his wife Mahinur Begum.
Abdul Quddus placed an application to the ACC chairman seeking change of Alamgir Hossain, the investigating officer at the case, alleging that he was soliciting bribes by calling the district registrar's brother. But the ACC chairman did not respond so he filed a writ petition to the High Court.
On March 8, the primary hearing of the case, HC asked for the call records of Abdul Quddus Hawladar's brother and ACC's assistant director Alamgir Hossain from July 2019 to February 2021.
READ: HC writ seeks investigation commission on Aug 15 tragedy
Adv. Amin Uddin Manik said the records showed that the ACC assistant director had several phone conversations with the elder brother of the accused instead of calling the accused (regarding the investigation).
For this reason, the HC has summoned the assistant director of the ACC, he said.
HC writ seeks investigation commission on Aug 15 tragedy
A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking its order to form an independent investigation commission to find out the conspirators of the August 15 mayhem that witnessed the assassination Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
Advocate Asfakozzoha filed the writ on behalf of the Supreme Court lawyer Subir Nandi Das, on Monday.
Hearing on the writ would be held next week in the HC bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Rajik Al Jalil, said Subir Nandi Das.
Also read: Writ seeks judicial inquiry into e-commerce scams
In the petition, the cabinet secretary, secretary of the ministry of law and parliamentary affairs, secretary of the home ministry and secretary of the finance ministry have been named as defendants, he said
Adv. Subir said, “Based on the primary report of the investigation commission into the Bangabandhu’s assassination formed by members of the British Parliament in 1982, I have filed a writ petition seeking an independent investigating commission to fully unmask the conspiracy and subsequent steps taken regarding the assassination.”
Also read: HC turns down writ challenging tree felling at Suhrawardy Udyan
The petition said it was necessary to unearth the individuals involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Bangabandhu and who were the beneficiaries, who did not allow the trial to take place and whose failure it was, he added.
Nine new High Court judges take oath
As many as nine new judges have taken the oath of office to the High Court, raising its working strength to 100 permanent judges.
Chief Justice of Bangladesh Syed Mahmud Hossain administered the oath of office to the nine judges, who previously served as additional justices, at the Judges’ Lounge of the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning.
Family members of the newly appointed permanent judges were present at the oath-taking ceremony.
Read:18 High Court judges get permanent seats
On Monday, President Abdul Hamid appointed the judges to the HC Division of the Supreme Court.
The new HC judges are justices Md Mahbub-ul Islam, Shahed Nuruddin, Md Zakir Hossain, Md Akhtaruzzaman, Mahmud Hasan Talukder, Kazi Ebadat Hossain, KM Zahid Sarwar Kajal, AKM Zahirul Haque and Kazi Zinat Haque
HC forms 5-member board to assess Evaly’s liabilities
The High Court on Monday formed a 5-member board to manage, control and assess the liabilities of e-commerce platform Evaly.
Former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik will lead the board.
Read:Evaly in admin: HC receives three ex-secys' names
Other members of the board are former secretary Mohammad Rezaul Ahsan and additional secretary Mahbub Kabir Milon, chartered accountant Fakhruddin Ahmed and lawyer Barrister Khan Mohammad Shamim Aziz.
The single company HC bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the interim order following a petition seeking liquidation of the company.
Syed Mahsib Hossain, counsel of the petitioner, said the High Court has constituted a 5-member board for Evaly’s management .
The board has been asked to submit a report on the company on the next due date.
Earlier on October 12, Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam suggested the formation of an interim board to manage the controversial e-commerce platform.
Read: Evaly's liabilities over Tk 1,000 crore
A plea was filed by a disgruntled customer named Md Farhad Hossen seeking court directives for dissolution of Evaly. He demanded a refund from the liquidation of Evaly's property.
It also sought formation of a board of directors to control and manage Evaly. Following a preliminary hearing on the application, the HC on September 22 banned the sale and transfer of immovable and movable property of Evaly. At the same time, the court wanted to know why the company would not be
On September 30, the court directed the Registrar for Joint Stock Companies and Firms to submit all the documents of Evaly to the court by October 11, which they did.
“This documents ahve been submitted to the court. However, they have not been examined yet.The board has been formed for this purpose,” lawyer Syed Mahsib Hossain said.
A handful of cases have been filed against Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel, and his wife Shamima Nasrin who is the chairman of the company, on allegations of embezzlement and cheque fraud.
The couple was arrested on September 16.
CID submits information on 8 money laundering cases to HC
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday submitted information on eight money laundering cases to the High Court.
Information on these cases under financial crimes investigation and signed by CID Special Superintendent of Police Md Humayun Kabi has been submitted as per the HC order.
The accused in the eight cases are - expelled leaders of Juba League Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, Enamul Haque Arman, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, expelled commissioners Mominul Haque Sayeed, Rajib Hossain Rana, Jamal Bhatara, Shariful Islam, Awlad Hossain, Shajahan Bablu, Nazmul Abedin, Sohela Abedin, AKM Jahid Hossain, A&B Outerwear & Norm Outfit & Accessories Ltd. Chittagong’s CEPZ.
The report also mentioned hacking Bangladesh Bank's vault. Unidentified hackers have been accused in the case as well.
Read: HC wants to know steps taken to prevent money laundering by e-commerce firms
It said that a total of 81 million USD was smuggled to the Philippines and 20 million USD to Sri Lanka. Among them, 14.61 million USD was recovered from the Philippines and 20 million USD from Sri Lanka, the report said. The report contains information on money laundered to 6 countries.
HC rejects Helena’s bail plea in DSA case
The High Court on Tuesday rejected bail to Helena Jahangir, an expelled Awami League member and businessperson, over a case filed at Gulshan police station Under Digital Security Act.
The bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Md Badruzzaman dismissed the bail petition as not presented at the court and as a result the accused will not be able to walk out of jail.
Lawyer Z I Khan Panna and Syed Fazle Elahi presented the petitioner’s side during the hearing while Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed, Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah and Deputy Attorney general AKM Amin Uddin appeared for the state.
Helena submitted a petition seeking bail from the High court last week.
READ: Helena Jahangir seeks bail from HC in DSA case
On July 30, Rapid Action Battalion-1 (Rab) filed the case against Helena at Gulshan police station for spreading invectives and abusive comments against ministers and government high-ups using digital platforms.
On September 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge KM Imrul Kayes rejected Helena’s bail plea in this case.
On the night of July 29, Rab arrested Helena from her Gulshan residence, four days after she was removed as member of AL sub-committee on women affairs.
The elite force "seized foreign liquor, illegal walkie-talkie sets, casino equipment and deer skins" during the four-hour raid on her home.
READ: Helena gives confessional statement in narcotics case
Later another raid was conducted at Joyjatra IPTV station in Mirpur and it was sealed after recovering illegal equipment.
Later the court placed Helena on a 17-day remand in four cases.
She secured bail in one case from court on August 17 and in two other cases on September 21.
HC stays allotment of 700-acre protected forest for civil service academy
The High Court on Monday stayed for three months a government order on allotment of 700 acres of land of protected forest in Cox’s Bazar for building a civil service academy. The bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Mia and Md Kamrul Hossain Molla passed the order and issued a rule on why the order will not be declared illegal followed by a writ petition filed in this regard. The court asked cabinet, environment, land and public administration secretaries to reply to the rule within four weeks.
READ: Helena Jahangir seeks bail from HC in DSA case
Lawyer Moniruzzaman Kabir presented the petitioner’s side during the hearing while Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar appeared for the state. On September 5, news was published in various media outlets where it was mentioned that 700 acres of forest land had been allotted for the construction of a training academy for government officials at Jhilongja. The area of Jhilongja forest adjacent to Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive is an ecologically critical area, the writ said. The ministry of land has allotted the forest land despite opposition from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The area was declared reserved by the British government in 1935 and until now the forest department was looking after it. According to the Forest Act only the forest department has the jurisdiction to lease or not a forest land containing hills and waterfalls. But the land ministry allotted the land to the public administration ministry.
READ: Appellate Division suspends HC order staying BFUJ election Petitioner Md Moniruzzaman said, “The highest court of the country has passed order to protect critically endangered forest area, but a government ministry has given order to destroy 700 acres of such land.” Constructing the academy will cause a terrible environmental hazard in the area, he said.
Helena Jahangir seeks bail from HC in DSA case
Helena Jahangir, an expelled Awami League member and businessperson, filed a petition before the High Court on Monday seeking bail in a case over Digital Security Act.
The petition was submitted before the bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Md Badruzzaman, Helena’s lawyer Syed Fazle Elahi said.
The bench may hear the petition on Tuesday, said public prosecutor and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin.
READ: Helena Jahangir seeks bail from HC in DSA case
On July 30, Rapid Action Battalion-1 (Rab) filed the case against Helena at Gulshan police station for spreading invectives and abusive comments against ministers and government high-ups using digital platforms.
On September 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge KM Imrul Kayes rejected Helena’s bail plea in this case.
On the night of July 29, Rab arrested Helena from her Gulshan residence, four days after she was removed as member of AL sub-committee on women affairs.
The elite forc "seized foreign liquor, illegal walkie-talkie sets, casino equipment and deer skins" during the four-hour raid on her home.
Later another raid was conducted at Joyjatra IPTV station in Mirpur and it was sealed after recovering illegal equipment.
READ: Helena gives confessional statement in narcotics case
Later the court placed Helena on a 17-day remand in four cases.
She secured bail in one case from court on August 17 and in two other cases on September 21.
HC rules on dropping AL leader’s name from graft investigation
The High Court on Monday issued a rule questioning why removing Tangail, Delduar upazila Awami League General Secretary M Shibly Sadik’s name from the probe on embezzling the TR-Kabikha project fund should not be declared illegal.
Bench of Justice M Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Zahid Sarwar issued the rule during a hearing on writ petition filed in this regard.
The court asked six people including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman, two commissioners, and Shibly Sadik, concerned investigation officer of the commission, to reply to the rule.
On Sunday, Supreme Court lawyer M Ashraful Islam filed a writ petition at the High Court challenging the exclusion of Shibly Sadik from the ACC's inquiry.
Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub presented the petitioner’s side during the hearing today while Barrister Sazzad Hossain appeared for ACC.
READ: HC asks ACC to capture real money launderers instead of businessmen
ACC started an inquiry into AL leader Shibly on charges of embezzling Tk 27 lakhs from Test Relief (TR) and Kabikha project based on reports in the media in 2017.
On January 25, 2018, ACC dropped Shibly’s name from charges after finding no evidence and ended the investigation.
Lawyer M Ashraful Islam said, ACC dropped the investigation without inquiring how the government fund allocated for the TR-Kabikha project got deposited in Shibly’s personal bank account.
READ: HC wants to know of steps against teachers in Rabindra University incident
On June 23, the lawyer also appealed to the ACC chairman to investigate many other complaints of corruption and irregularities against the Tangail AL leader.