United News of Bangladesh

The High Court on Sunday deferred till October 26 the hearing on the bail petition filed by former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in a case filed over the death of a Jubo Dal activist  at Jatrabari during the July uprising. The HC bench of Justice Md Zakir Hossain and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja passed the order after hearing a petition filed seeking time. On August 11, the lawyers of Khairul Haque filed a petition seeking cancellation of the case and bail for their client. HC Rule: Delta Medical College and Hospital faces Tk 5 crore compensation for breaking newborn's hand The state counsel filed a petition seeking time for one week in the case that led to chaos at the court. Later, the court fixed Sunday for hearing the petition. On July 24 this year, detectives arrested Khairul from his Dhanmondi residence.

The High Court on Thursday asked the local administration to submit within two months a list of those involved in the plundering of natural stones from Bholaganj tourist area in Sylhet district. The HC also directed the administration to recover the looted stones, better known as sada pathor, and dump thse into the previous places within seven days. The HC bench of Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Aynun Nahar Siddiqua passed the order after hearing a writ petition. UP chairman held over stone theft from Sada Pathor in Sylhet The HC also said why the local administration should not be held responsible for their inaction to prevent the looting. Besides, the court also asked to form a high-level probe body headed by a Buet expert to determine the financial and environmental damage following the extraction of the stones. The local administration has been asked to submit the progress report of the court order’s by next Thursday. Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner. Sada Pathor: 12,000 cubic feet stones recovered The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the local administration in connection with the looting of stones, should not be declared illegal. It also issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to take steps in conservation of the area. The HC issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why the area should not be declared as an ecologically critical area according to section 5 of the environmental law and why an order won’t be given to recover compensation from those who have looted these stones and harmed the environment. Secretary to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, Superintendent of Sylhet Police, BGB, Rab and local administration have been made respondents to the rule. Meanwhile, another HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Sayed Jahed Mansur fixed August 17 (Sunday) for hearing another writ petition filed seeking legal action against those involved in looting the stones from Sada Pathor area. The writ also sought deployment of additional law enforcement agencies in the Sada Pathor area.    

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to declare Abu Sayed, Mir Mugdho, Wasim and other martyrs of July uprising as national heroes. The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Sayed Jahed Mansur issued the rule responding to a writ petition. The HC also issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to prepare a reliable list of the martyrs of the movement and issued a gazette notification. It also issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, will not be declared the National Reformer of new Bangladesh. Cabinet Secretary, Law Secretary and officials concerned have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks. Appointment of administrator to Nagad legal: High Court Advocate Mohammad Ali Jinnah stood for the petitioner while assistant attorney general Ikramul Kabir represented the state. Earlier in February, a writ petition was filed seeking the declaration of Prof Yunus as the National Reformer and urging the government to publish the official list of those killed in the 2024 uprising and recognise them as national martyrs. Imdadul Haque, a member of the Dhaka Union of Journalists, filed the writ petition.

A writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) on Sunday seeking its directives to form a judicial commission to probe the murder of scrap trader Lal Chand alias Md Sohag in front of Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka recently. Supreme Court lawyer Dr Md Yunus Ali Akanda filed the writ petition with the HC section concerned. Speaking reporters after filing the petition, he said directives were sought to arrest the accused those involved in the murder directly. Hearing on the writ petition is expected to be held tomorrow (Monday) at the bench of Justice Kazi Zinnat Hoque and Justice Aynun Nahar Siddiqua, he said. On July 9, a group of people killed the 39-year-old vendor indiscriminately by stabbing and hitting with a knife and a stone in front of the hospital in broad daylight. Appointment of administrator to Nagad legal: High Court A video showing the brutality went viral on social media, triggering severe outcry in the country. University students, activists of political parties staged demonstrations demanding the arrest of the killers immediately. Victim’s elder sister Manjuara Begum filed a murder case naming 19 people and 15 to 20 unidentified ones with Kotwali Police Station and police filed another case under the Arms Act. Meanwhile, BNP has expelled five leaders of Jubo, Swechasebak and Chhatra Dal from the party for their alleged involvement in the murder.

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday instructed the authorities concerned to reinstate former Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Sharif Uddin in the job, declaring his termination made during the Awami League government as illegal. A two-member tribunal of Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Biswajit Debnath passed the order on completion of long legal procedures, said senior lawyer Md Salah Uddin Dolan who stood for Sharif in the court. The former ACC official was present during the delivery of the verdict.     The court also instructed the authorities to execute the order within 30 days after obtaining the copy of the verdict and ensure seniority and other facilities for him when he will join the job. On February 16, 2022, Sharif was terminated from his position, citing no ground which triggered severe outcry on social media across the country. Appointment of administrator to Nagad legal: High Court On March 13 of the same year, the victim submitted a writ with the HC seeking his reinstatement in the job. After the primary hearing on February 6 last year, the HC issued a rule asking why his termination would not be declared illegal and his job would not be returned. On Tuesday, the court held a hearing on the ruling and set Wednesday for delivering the judgment. ACC lawyer Asif Hasan said the anti-graft commission will be apprised of the verdict and they (ACC) will decide regarding the appeal challenging the order.

The Appellate Division on Sunday stayed the effectiveness of its 2018 judgment that approved the much-debated service discipline rules for lower court judges. A six-member bench led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order. The same bench also granted leave to appeal against the earlier verdict that had endorsed the controversial rules. Following the order now there is no legal bar to continuing the ongoing High Court hearing on a writ petition concerning Article 116 of the Constitution, said lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman represented the state during the hearing. Earlier on June 26, the court fixed June 29 for delivering the verdict on the review petition filed against the Appellate Division’s 2018 judgment which had approved the much-debated discipline rules for lower court judges. On that day, lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir argued in favour of the review while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman opposed it. Appointment of administrator to Nagad legal: High Court Talking to reporters after the order Advocate Shishir Monir said, “We told the court that the 2018 discipline rules were imposed by the then acting Chief Justice practically assaulting the judiciary. Previously, nine judges had delivered different orders on this issue. The government through the judiciary forced to introduce the gazette on lower court judges’ service rules—something unprecedented in judicial history.” That’s why we filed the review petition with the court’s permission seeking its urgent consideration,” he added. The dispute over lower court judges’ service rules traces back to the landmark Masdar Hossain case verdict of December 2, 1999, when the Appellate Division issued 12 directives for judicial independence including a clear separation of the judiciary from the executive branch. The Appellate Division upheld this landmark verdict in 2005.

The High Court on Tuesday fixed May 28 for delivering its judgment in the appeal petition filed by Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, challenging her three-year jail sentence in a graft case. The bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman fixed the date after hearing the petition. Advocate Asif Hasan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission while Advocate SM Shahjahan, Advocate Kaisar Kamal and Advocate Zakir Bhuiya represented the petitioner.  Tarique Rahman expects most credible election soon under Dr Yunus On May 14, Zubaida filed the petition with the HC seeking to overturn her sentence. The court accepted the petition for hearing and condoned a 587-day delay in filing the appeal. On August 2, 2023, a Dhaka court sentenced Tarique  to nine years in prison and Zubaida to three years in a case related to amassing wealth illegally and concealing information. On September 22 last year, the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette suspending Zubaida’s sentence for one year, following her petition and with the consent of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Zubaida had left the country with her husband for London on September 11, 2008, where she lived for nearly 17 years before returning to Bangladesh on May 6 this year. Rizvi accuses advisers of misleading people on BNP’s election demand The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against the couple and another individual on September 26, 2007, at Dhaka’s Kafrul Police Station for concealing wealth information and amassing illegal assets.    

A writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) on Wednesday seeking a direction to prevent  BNP leader Ishraque Hossain from taking oath as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The writ also sought action against the Judge of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal for giving a fraudulent judgement by declaring Ishraque as mayor. Md. Mamunur Rashid, a resident of Dhaka South City Corporation, filed the writ in the relevant branch of the High Court. The secretary of the local government division, law secretary, chief election commissioner, election commission secretary, joint district judge Md. Nurul Islam and Md. Ishraque Hossain were made defendants in the writ petition. The writ petition will be heard by the High Court bench of Justice Md. Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury next Sunday, said the petitioner's lawyer Kazi Akbar Ali. Zubaida Rahman granted bail in graft case Earlier on March 27 , Judge of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Md Nurul Islam cancelled the results of the 2020 DSCC election and announced BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Later on April 27, the EC issued a gazette notification declaring him as mayor. On April 28, two Dhaka residents, including writ petitioner Mamunur Rashid, sent legal notices to the authorities concerned to appeal or review the verdict and decree given by the Election Tribunal declaring Ishraque as mayor. The notice also asked to refrain from publishing gazettes in the name of Ishraque and administering oaths to him. Meanwhile, supporters of Ishraque staged a demonstration on Wednesday, demanding that he be sworn in and handed the responsibilities of mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation. Mystic singer-turned AL MP Momtaz detained: DB The protest, held outside the Dhaka South City Corporation headquarters, culminated in the announcement of a nonstop sit-in starting at 9am tomorrow to press home their demand. Earlier in the morning, at around 8:30am, thousands of people gathered in front of Nagar Bhaban under the banner of Dhakabashi (Residents of Dhaka) and formed a human chain in support of Ishraque.

The Appellate Division on Wednesday set June 1 for delivering its judgment on  the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami seeking restoration of its registration as a political party.  Ex-Jamaat leader Barrister Abdur Razzaq passes away A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order after hearing the law point arguments from both sides. Senior Advocate Ehsan Siddique and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir stood for the petition. On October 22, 2024,  the Appellate Division revived a previously dismissed appeal by the Jamaat-e-Islami, seeking to regain its registration as a political party. On 1 August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat's registration as a political party illegal following the disposal of a writ petition.  Jamaat backs proportional representation, bicameral parliament, 2-term limit for PM On December 7, 2018, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification cancelling Jamaat's registration. Jamaat-e-Islami later appealed challenging the High Court verdict. As Jamaat’s lead lawyer was absent during the appeal hearing, a six-member Appellate Division bench dismissed the appeal in November, 2023,  thereby upholding the High Court's ruling that declared Jamaat-e-Islami's registration as a political party invalid. Meanwhile, then Awami League government banned Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir on August 1, 2024. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification banning Jamaat, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and other affiliated organizations under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On August 28, the decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organisations was revoked, through another gazette notification .  Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher

The High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, in a graft case. The bail will remain in force until the disposal of a petition she filed with the High Court challenging a lower court verdict that sentenced her to three years in jail. The bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman also stayed the financial penalty imposed on her in the case. Earlier, on Tuesday, Zubaida filed the petition against her jail sentence. The court accepted it for hearing and condoned a 587-day delay in filing the appeal. On August 2, 2023, a Dhaka court sentenced Tarique to nine years and Zubaida to three years in prison for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information. Zubaida files petition challenging sentence in graft case Following her petition, the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette on September 22 last year, suspending her sentence for one year with the consent of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Zubaida had left the country with her husband for London on September 11, 2008, and stayed there for around 17 years before returning home on May 6 this year. Her appeal was included in the High Court’s cause list on Tuesday (May 13). The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against the couple and another person on September 26, 2007, with Kafrul Police Station in the capital for amassing illegal wealth and concealing asset information. The charges were framed the following year.