United News of Bangladesh

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Tuesday said that out of 1,760 cases filed over last year’s anti-discrimination movement, charge sheets have so far been submitted in only 55 cases, while the remaining cases are still under investigation. The IGP disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the police headquarters. He said police, under section 173-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), have already recommended relief for 136 people found primarily innocent, and courts have granted them exemption from the charges. Applications for another 236 individuals are currently under consideration. Of the total cases, 766 are murder cases and 974 fall under other sections. Among the 55 cases where charge sheets have been filed, 18 are murder cases indicting 1,941 accused, while the remaining 37 cases involve 2,185 accused. The IGP said the charge sheets in the 18 murder cases were submitted in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sherpur, Feni, Chandpur, Noakhali, Pabna, Kurigram, Bogura and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) areas. The other 37 charge-sheeted cases are from Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj, Naogaon, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Narsingdi and Barguna districts. Govt okays procurement of 40,000 body cameras for police use during polls He added that senior officers are supervising the investigations, while also mentoring junior officers who are not yet fully capable of handling complex probes on their own. On allegations of false cases and harassment, the IGP acknowledged that in some instances innocent people were wrongfully accused. “The government has introduced a legal provision to provide relief to such individuals even before charge sheets are filed.” He assured that police headquarters is taking measures to ensure no innocent person faces harassment, and warned that action would be taken against any officer found involved in malpractice. The IGP also urged those who consider themselves innocent to apply under section 173-A so their cases can be reviewed and forwarded to the court for exemption.

The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday approved charge-sheets against 11 people, including seven doctors and three contractors for irregularities in procurement of drugs for Maternal and Child Health Training Institute. Investigation Officer Deputy Director Mohammad Abu Bakr filed the case with Dhaka Coordinated Office -1 in 2019. According to the case statement, the ACC investigated allegations of corruption in various purchases for the institute in Azimpur from 2014-15 to 2016-17. In the financial year 2014-15, as per the work order, a bill of Tk 32 lakh 91 thousand 720 was paid to the contractor for the supply of medicines. However, the maximum price of the same drug is TK16 lakh 45 thousand 298 according to the retail price and the price of the Department of Drug Administration. The rest of the money has been paid extra. READ: Following complaints, ACC launches drive against Jibon Bima MD Thus, money has been embezzled in the same process in four financial years, according to the charges. The charge-sheeted people are - Proprietor of Monarch Establishment Fatenur Islam, Owner of Nafisa Business Corner Sheikh Idris Uddin (Chanchal), Proprietor of  Santana Traders Nizamur Rahman Chowdhury, former Supervisor of Maternal and Child Health Training Institute of Azimpur, Dhaka and President of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Israt Jahan,former Principal of Family Welfare Inspector Training Institute and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Parveen Haque Chowdhury, former Junior Consultant (Os / Gynaecology) of the Training Institute and Member-Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Mahfuza Khatun, former Assistant Co-ordinator (Training and Research) and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Chinmoy Kanti Das, former Medical Officer of Dhaka District Civil Surgeon's Office and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee ( now  Deputy Director of Department of Health) Dr. Saiful Islam, Medical Officer (Children) of the Training Institute, Member of Market Price Verification Committee and Member Secretary of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Begum Mahfuza Dilara Akhter, Medical Officer of the Institute and  President of Market Price Verification Committee Dr. Nazrina Begum, and former Administrative Officer of the same  Training Institute and Member of Market Price Verification Committee Zahirul Islam ( currently working as Assistant Upazila Family Planning Officer in  Nayakhali Sadar). READ: Tk 850-cr missing: ACC questions mid-level officers at Ctg Custom House