The High Court (HC) on Sunday upheld the trial court’s verdict, confirming the death penalty for 20 students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and life imprisonment for five others in the sensational Abrar Fahad murder case. A High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the verdict in a jam-packed courtroom. Earlier, on Saturday, the HC had scheduled Sunday for pronouncing its verdict on the death references and appeals filed by the convicts. The hearing on these matters concluded on February 24, after which the case was kept under review. What Abrar Fahad's parents said regarding Chhatra League ban Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Buet’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department, was beaten to death on October 6, 2019, by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Sher-e-Bangla Hall. The attack was reportedly triggered by a Facebook post Abrar had made about water-sharing issues between Bangladesh and India. His body was later found on the dormitory’s staircase. The following day, Abrar’s father filed a murder case at Chawkbazar Police Station. The incident sparked nationwide outrage, leading to widespread protests. On December 8, 2021, a Dhaka court sentenced 20 Buet students to death and handed life imprisonment to five others for their involvement in the murder. HC resumes hearing on death references in Abrar murder case Convicts and sentences The 20 students sentenced to death are: Mehedi Hassan Rasel, Anik Sarker, Mehedi Hassan Robin, Ifty Mosharaf Sakal, Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Jiyon, Majedur Rahman, Muzahidur Rahman, Tabakhairul Islam Tanvir, Hossen Mohammad Toha, Shamim Billah, Nazmus Shadat, Muntasir Al Jemi, Mizanur Rahman, Mahmud Setu, Shamsul Arifin Rafat, Morshed Omorto Islam, Ehtesamul Rabbi, Morshed Uzzaman Jishan, Mujtaba Rafeed, The five students who received life imprisonment are: Muhtasim Fuyad, Akash Hossain, Mowaz Abu Horaira, Omit Shaha and Ishtiaq Hassan Munna. Of the total 25 accused in the case, five are on the run.  The HC began hearing the death reference and appeals on November 28 last year before reaching its final decision today.  

The High Court will deliver its verdict on the death references and appeals in the murder case of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad on Sunday. The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain fixed the date. Earlier, the hearing on the death references and the appeals of the accused in the Abrar Fahad murder case concluded on February 24, and the case was kept awaiting a verdict. Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Jasim Sorkar, Khondkar Bahar Rumi, Noor Mohammad Azmi, and Russell Ahmed stood for the stage along with Assistant Attorney Generals Abdul Zubair Jewel, Laboni Akter, Tanvir Pradhan, and Sumaiya Binte Aziz. Senior lawyers SM Shahjahan, Azizur Rahman Dulu, Masud Hasan Chowdhury and Mohammad Shishir Monir stood for the accused. ACC seeks arrest of UP chairman in case of abnormal bank transactions  The Supreme Court's website shows the case listed for the Sunday session for the delivery of the verdict. Abrar, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department of the Buet, was beaten to death by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall on 6 October in 2019 allegedly over a Facebook post regarding water-sharing issues between Bangladesh and India. His body was later found on the stairs of the hall. On the following day, the victim’s father filed a murder case against 19 Chhatra League members with Chawkbazar police station then a massive outrage sparked across the country centring the issue. A Dhaka court on December 8, 2021, sentenced 20 Buet students to death and five to life terms in jail for their involvement in the murder. The death row convicts were- Mehedi Hassan Rasel, Anik Sarker, Mehedi Hassan Robin, Ifty Mosharaf Sakal, Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Jiyon, Majedur Rahman, Muzahidur Rahman, Tabakhairul Islam Tanvir, Hossen Mohammad Toha, Shamim Billah, Nazmus Shadat, Muntasir Al Jemi, Mizanur Rahman, Mahmud Setu, Shamsul Arifin Rafat, Morshed Omorto Islam, Ehtesamul Rabbi, Morshed Uzzaman Jishan and Mujtaba Rafeed The lifers were- Muhtasim Fuyad, Akash Hossain, Mowaz Abu Horaira, Omit Shaha and Istiaq Hassan Munna. The High Court bench began hearing the death reference and appeals on November 28, last year.

The High Court (HC) on Sunday ordered the lower court to complete the trial of the case involving the rape of an eight-year-old girl from Magura within six months. An HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the suo motu order. Two lawyers also submitted a writ in this regard drawing the top court’s attention. The Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal concerned was directed to implement this order (completion of trial) with the timeframe. The HC also ordered the completion of investigation into the case within 30 days, and submit a report in this regard accordingly.     The court instructed to remove all photos of the victim from all types of media, including social media platforms, within 24 hours. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), police and Cyber Crime Unit were instructed to implement the order immediately. Besides, the court ordered the authorities to take action against those print and social media published photo and identity of the victim within three days as the section 14 of the Women and Children Repression and Prevention Act. Magura child rapist to be brought to justice: Home Adviser The social welfare official of Magura district was ordered to ensure security of the victim and her sister within 24 hours. The court in its observation said publishing the identity of the victim, and sharing photos are punishable offences and people will have to know it.   The incident occurred when the victim visited her sister’s in-laws’ house at Nijnanduali village in Magura’s Sadar upazila. She went to bed with her sister at night, but in the dead of night, her sister found her missing and began searching for her. After a frantic search, the girl was found unconscious a few yards away from the house. She was initially admitted to Magura General Hospital and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated. On Thursday, she was moved to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) before being shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka. Meanwhile, university students, including that of Dhaka University, staged demonstrations early Sunday on their respective campuses, demanding the death penalty of the accused. Earlier in the day, Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury visited the girl at the CMH and said the rapists will not be spared as the state is determined to ensure justice.  

The High Court (HC) will deliver judgment any day on the death references, appeals and jail appeals of the convicts in the Ramna Batamul bombing cases filed over two decades ago. An HC bench consisting of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasrin Akter passed the order after ending hearings on the death references and appeals. Defence lawyers SM Shahjahan, Sarwar and Mohammad Shishir Monir stood for the accused while deputy attorney general Sultana Akter Rubi represented the state during the hearing in the court. On April 14, 2001, during the Chhayanat’s Bengali New Year celebrations at Ramna Batamul, a bomb blast left nine people dead on the spot. Another died at the hospital later. Two cases – one for murder and another for explosives -- were filed with Ramna Police Station after the incident. Dhaka's Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge ruled on June 23, 2014 in a murder case involving the bomb attack. DU rape case: Court set to deliver judgement this afternoon Eight people, including Mufti Hannan, the top leader of Harkatul Jihad (Huji), were sentenced to death and six to life imprisonment. However, Mufti Hannan was hanged on April 12, 2017 in a conviction over another grenade attack in Sylhet. The death references and appeals of the convicts were kept waiting for hearing in the High Court. After hearing the death references and other appeals, the court is now set to deliver the verdict any day.

The Appellate Division has deferred the hearing on four petitions, seeking a review of its verdict that scrapped the caretaker government system, for two weeks. A three-member bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice M Ashfaqul Islam, passed the order on Tuesday. Currently, Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed is out of the country. Senior lawyers Joynul Abedin, Sharif Bhuiyan and Shishir Monir stood for the petitioners while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman represented the state during the hearing in the court. The caretaker government system was introduced in 1996. In 1998, a writ petition was submitted with the High Court (HC) challenging its validity. Jamaat files review petition to reinstate caretaker government The HC dismissed the writ on 4 August 2004, upholding the system's constitutionality. Following this, the writ petitioners appealed in 2005. On May 10, 2011, the Appellate Division declared the Thirteenth Amendment unconstitutional. The caretaker government system was formally abolished through the Fifteenth Amendment, passed in Parliament on 30 June 2011, and gazetted on 3 July that year. BNP wants to reinstate caretaker government system for elections: Tarique Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, five people, including secretary to Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJON) Badiul Alam Majumdar, submitted a petition seeking a review of the verdict. Besides, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir filed a separate petition on 16 October, while secretary general to Jamaat-e-Islami Mia Golam Parwar, submitted another on 23 October.

The High Court (HC) has cancelled the process of appointing 6, 531 candidates as assistant teachers of government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. An HC bench consisting of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Raji passed the order after hearing a petition on Thursday. The court also directed the authorities to start a fresh recruitment process based on merit. On June 14 in 2023, the government issued a circular for recruiting assistant teacher for the primary schools in both divisions. On October 31 last year, the government published the final results of the recruitment test declaring 6, 531 candidates as successful. Later, 30 candidates submitted a petition with the HC challenging the legality of the recruitment following the abolition of job quota system. Primary school teachers protest at Shaheed Minar, demand implementation of 10th grade salary scale After the primary hearing on November 19, the court stayed the recruitment process for six months. Moreover, the court issued a rule asking as to why the recruitment process should not be declared illegal. Challenging the order, the Directorate of Primary Education submitted a leave-to-appeal with the Appellate Division. Online transfer of primary school teachers begins Jan 20 The court upheld the HC order and ordered to settle the petition within January 25.

The High Court (HC) has acquitted 47 convicts including nine death row ones in a case filed over attempt to kill former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Pabna around 30 years back. An HC bench consisting of Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam and Justice Hamidur Rahman passed the order on Wednesday, said Barrister Kaisar Kamal who stood for the defendants at the court. Earlier on January 30 this year, the court held a hearing on a petition submitted by the convicts and the death reference, and set February 5 to deliver its judgment. Lawyer Kaisar said a Pabna court sentenced nine people to death, 25 to life term and 13 others to 10 years in jail in 2019 for attack on Sheikh Hasina. All the convicts were leaders and activists of BNP and the sentences were politically-motivated , he said. Khaleda Zia, 35 others acquitted in Cumilla sabotage case According to the case statement, a group of BNP men led by leader Jakaria Pintu opened fire targeting Sheikh Hasina to kill her when she was travelling to Saidpur from Khulna by Rupsa Express on September 23, 1994. Later, the then Ishwardi police station’s Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam filed a case in this regard. The Criminal Investigation Department submitted a chargesheet against 52 accused on April 3 in 1997 after investigating the case. Khaleda, Tarique acquitted in Zia Orphanage graft case Five out of the accused were exempted from the charges as they had died. On July 3 in 2019, the Pabna court handed down the verdict. Later, the death references were sent to the HC while the convicts submitted a petition with the court seeking acquittal.  

The High Court has rejected the bail prayer of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote and former ISKCON leader, in a sedition case. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why Chinmoy should not be granted bail in this case on Tuesday. The bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza issued the rule after holding hearing on a petition filed by Chinmoy seeking bail in the case. On October 25 last year, a large gathering of the Sanatani community was held in Chattogram under the leadership of Chinmoy Krishna Das. A sedition case was filed against 19 people, including Chinmoy, on charge of belittling the national flag on October 31. On November 22, another large rally was held in Rangpur under the leadership of Chinmoy who was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 in the sedition case. 63 lawyers get bail in case filed over Chinmoy issue On January 2 this year, Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam denied bail to Chinmoy in the sedition case. On December 11 last year, the same court rejected his bail petition in the same case. The Chattogram court rejected Chinmoy's bail petition, ordered him to be sent to jail, and the decision sparked clashes between his followers, law enforcers and lawyers on the court premises. At one stage of the clash, one lawyer, a lawyer named advocate Saiful Islam Alif, was hacked to death outside the court premises. Chattogram court turns down Chinmoy’s bail prayer in sedition case Several cases have so far been filed against Chinmoy and others following the murder of the lawyer.

High Court Justice Shahed Nuruddin has resigned while allegations against him were under investigation in the Supreme Judicial Council. In a message sent by the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division Public Relations Officer (PRO) Shafiqul Islam on Thursday, it was confirmed that Justice Shahed Nuruddin submitted his resignation letter to the President through the Chief Justice of Bangladesh from Canada while an investigation against him was ongoing under the Supreme Judicial Council. Govt approves ordinance for transparent HC judge appointments He and his wife left the country on November 9 last year and are currently in Canada. Justice Shahed Nuruddin was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court on October 21, 2019 during the tenure of the previous Awami League government, following his retirement as a District and Sessions Judge. His appointment was made permanent two years later. He came into the spotlight for delivering the verdict in the widely discussed August 21 grenade attack case while serving as the judge of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal No. 1. The High Court later acquitted all the accused in the case. Justice Nuruddin also delivered verdicts in several other high-profile cases, including the Sony murder case, Ahsanullah Master murder case, “Pichchi Hannan” murder case, and college teacher Krishna Kaberi murder case, among others. Appellate Division upholds HC's dismissal of 5 labour cases against Dr Yunus A graduate of Dhaka University’s law department, he joined the judiciary as a Munsif in 1983 and was promoted to District Judge in 2000. His resignation comes in the wake of growing scrutiny over judicial appointments made during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure as prime minister. On October 16 last year, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed placed 12 judges, including Nuruddin, on leave following demands for the removal of judges accused of partisanship and corruption. Subsequently, from October 20, he was barred from conducting judicial duties. On the same day, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement held a demonstration at the High Court demanding the resignation of Awami League-backed judges, while the Anti-Discrimination Lawyers’ Society and the National Citizens’ Committee’s Legal Wing also staged protests calling for the removal of politically affiliated judges. Following these events, Supreme Court Registrar General Aziz Ahmad Bhuiyan announced that 12 judges of the High Court Division would not be assigned to any benches. However, at that time, their names were not disclosed. Later, they were absent from the High Court’s cause list. One of the judges has since retired. In November last year, the Supreme Court administration issued a notice stating that the Supreme Judicial Council was reviewing information regarding several judges after the ruling on the 16th Amendment. On December 4, the administration further confirmed that a preliminary investigation into the conduct of several judges was ongoing. BNP welcomes HC verdict scrapping part of 15th Amendment On December 15, the Supreme Judicial Council invoked Article 96 of the Constitution and submitted information on several judges to the President. According to an update on the Supreme Court’s website on January 6, the President has instructed the Supreme Judicial Council to investigate multiple Supreme Court judges under Article 96(5)(B) of the Constitution. The investigation is set to begin next week.

The High Court on Tuesday ordered taking prior permission from the authorities concerned for felling trees. The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed over the issue. The court also asked Senior Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry to form a committee within seven days for taking permission for cutting trees at district level. The committee should comprise an environmentalist, environment expert, professors of the Department of Environmental Science from Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University. High Court rejects ex-NBR Official Matiur’s writ petition to travel abroad Deputy Commissioners, District Environment officer, professor of a government college, social worker, environmentalist, president of general secretary of the District Bar Association and District Civil Surgeons must be included in the committee . In case of upazila level, the court also asked the senior secretary of the Public Administration to issue another circular to the deputy commissioners to form another committee within seven days with the Upazila Nirbahi Officers, professors of the government colleges, social worker, environmentalist, Social Worker officer, Assistant Commissioner (land) and executive engineers of LGED. Besides, according to the Social Forestry Rules 2004, trees planted under this programme cannot be cut down and instead an amount equivalent to the value of the trees must be paid to the owner of the plant. Immunity provision in quick rental act illegal: High Court The court also provided instructions to amend the Social Forestry Rules accordingly. In its observation, the court said as temperatures continue to rise in the country, it is essential to preserve more trees. Widespread deforestation will disrupt the balance of our environment, undermining our right to live. The court further said that Bangladesh does not have the necessary number of trees required to maintain environmental balance and protecting these trees is critically important for the environment. On May 5, 2024, a rights organisation named Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), filed a writ petition seeking steps to stop pollution. High Court scraps 11 cases against Khaleda Zia On May 7, last year, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why trees cutting in two cities of Dhaka, district and upazila level, should not be declared contradictory to the human rights and why seven-member committee should not be formed in all levels to give permission for cutting trees.